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Now butt an' benR the change-house' fills 'Twad be owre lang a tale to tell

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Wi' yill-caups commentators: Here's cryin out for bakes9 an gills, An' there the pint-stowp1o clatters; While thick an' thrang, an' loud an' lang, Wi' logic an' wi' Scripture, They raise a din, that in the end Is like to breed a rupture

O' wrath that day.

Leeze me11 on drink! it gies us mair
Than either school or college:
It kindles wit, it waukens lear, 12
It pangs13 us fou o' knowledge.
Be't whisky-gill or penny-wheep,14
Or onie stronger potion,

It never fails, on drinkin deep,
To kittle15 up our notion
By night or day.

The lads an' lasses, blythely bent To mind baith saul an' body,

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How monie stories past,
An' how they crouded to the yill,21
When they were a' dismist;
How drink gaed round in cogs22 and caups23
Amang the furms24 an' benches:
An' cheese and bread frae women's laps 205
Was dealt about in lunches
An' dawds25 that day.

In comes a gawsie,26 gash27 guidwife
An' sits down by the fire,

Syne28 draws her kebbuck 29 an' her knife;

The lasses they are shyer:

The auld guidmen about the grace

Frae side to side they bother,

Till some ane by his bonnet lays,
And gi'es them't,30 like a tether,
Fu' lang that day.

Waesucks!31 for him that gets nae lass,
Or lasses that hae naething!
Sma' need has he to say a grace,
Or melvie32 his braw claithing!
O wives, be mindfu' ance yoursel
How bonie lads ye wanted,
An' dinna for a kebbuck-heel33
Let lasses be affronted
On sic a day!

Now Clinkumbell, wi' rattlin tow,3

Begins to jow35 an' croon;

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Some swagger hame the best they dow,36 Some wait the afternoon.

At slaps the billies38 halt a blink, 230 Till lasses strip their shoon:

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the new;

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What makes the youth sae bashfu' an' sae grave,

The father mixes a' wi' admonition due. 45 Weel-pleased to think her bairn's re

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spected like the lave.17

O happy love! where love like this is found!

O heart-felt raptures! bliss beyond compare!

I've paced much this weary, mortal round,

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And sage experience bids me this de

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