Stray Leaves from the Portfolios of Alisander the Seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle Edited by Alexander Rodger |
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I HAD A HAT, I HAD NAE MAIR. |
 | Stray Leaves from the Portfolios of Alisander the Seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle |  |
I HAD A HAT, I HAD NAE MAIR.
I had a hat, I had nae mair,
I gat it frae the hatter;
My hat was smash'd, my skull laid bare,
Ae night when on the batter;
And sae I thocht me on a plan,
Whereby to mend the matter—
Just turn at ance a sober man,
And tak' to drinking water.
I gat it frae the hatter;
My hat was smash'd, my skull laid bare,
Ae night when on the batter;
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Whereby to mend the matter—
Just turn at ance a sober man,
And tak' to drinking water.
My plan I quickly put in force,
Yea, stuck till't most sincerely,
And now I drive my gig and horse,
And hae an income yearly.
But, had I still kept boozing on,
'Twa'd been anither matter,
My credit, cash, and claes had gone,
In tatter after tatter.
Yea, stuck till't most sincerely,
And now I drive my gig and horse,
And hae an income yearly.
But, had I still kept boozing on,
'Twa'd been anither matter,
My credit, cash, and claes had gone,
In tatter after tatter.
My wife, perhaps, a worthless pest,
My wanes half-starved and duddy;
And I mysel', at very best,
Gaun wi' an auld coal cuddie;
Wi' scarce a stick in a' the house,
Or spoon, or bowl, or platter,
Or milk, or meal, to feed a mouse,
Or blanket, save a tatter.
My wanes half-starved and duddy;
And I mysel', at very best,
Gaun wi' an auld coal cuddie;
Wi' scarce a stick in a' the house,
Or spoon, or bowl, or platter,
Or milk, or meal, to feed a mouse,
Or blanket, save a tatter.
Now, Gude be praised, I've peace o' mind,
Clear head, and health o' body,
A thrifty wifie, cosh and kind,
And bairnies plump and ruddy.
Hence, I'd advise ilk weirdless wight,
Wha likes the gill-stoup's clatter,
To try my plan this very night,
And tak' to drinking water.
Clear head, and health o' body,
A thrifty wifie, cosh and kind,
And bairnies plump and ruddy.
Hence, I'd advise ilk weirdless wight,
Wha likes the gill-stoup's clatter,
To try my plan this very night,
And tak' to drinking water.
| Stray Leaves from the Portfolios of Alisander the Seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle | |