Ballads in the Cumberland dialect :: :: University of Virginia Library

I went to see young Susy,
Bonny, teydy, blithe was she;
I slyly kiss'd her cherry lips,
And mark'd the magic o' her e'e,
That in my fancy rais'd desire;
But purer passion never burn'd
In onie lover's bosom;
And aye may sorrow wet his cheek,
Who'd crush sae rare a blossom!

And now the rwosie lassie
The cleath she laid, and teable spread
Wi' monie a dainty quickly,
And monie a welcome thing she said;
But nit sae sweet the honey-cwom,
As Susy's temptin cherry lips,
That fir'd at once my bosom:
O may no rude destroyer dare
To crop sae fair a blossom!

And now, to greet the stranger,
The wearied auld fwok dander'd heame,

And village news recounted:
The guid man bade his sonsy deame
Trim up the fire and mek the tea;
The gurdle-cakes as Susy turn'd,
I watch'd her heaving bosom,
And pleasure beam'd in ilka feace,
To see sae sweet a blossom.

And now, to please the auld fwok,
The sang and teale went gaily round,
Till neet had drawn her curtain
Some full five hours; I ruse, and fan
Young Susy half consenting
To set me out a mile a-geate;
I held her to my bosom,
And, parting, kiss'd, and pray'd kind Heav'n
To guard this beauteous blossom.

January 8, 1803.