He wed a wife when he was young,, But she had dee'd, and John was wae; He wantit lang, at length did gang To court Nell Brunton o' the Brae. Auld John cam daddin' down the hill, His shoon war four punds weight a-piece, His doublet strang was large an' lang, His breeks they hardly reach'd his knee; His coat was thread about wi' green, The moths had wrought it muckle harm, The pouches war an ell atween, The cuff was fauldit up the arm; He wore a bonnet on his head, The bung upon his shoulders lay, An' by its neb ye wad hae read That Johnnie view'd the milky way: For Johnnie to himsell he said, As he came duntin' down the brae, "A wooer ne'er should hing his head, But blink the breeze an' brow the day;" An' Johnnie said unto himsell, "A wooer risks nae broken banes; I'll tell the lassie sic a tale Will gar her look twa gates at anes." But yet, for a' his antic dress, His cheeks wi' healthy red did glow; An' Nelly was a sonsy lass, Fu' ripe an' ruddy was her mou', Her brow was white like Cheviot woo; * In another edition the conclusion of the Song stands thus: "Gudewife," quo John, as he sat down, An' if I die immediately She shall hae a' the gowd hersel, An' if I chance to hae a son, I'll breed him up a braw divine; An' I'll provide for a' the lave, Although we should hae aught or nine," Wi' little say he wan the day, She soon became his bonnie bride; But ilka joy is fled away Frae Johnnie's cantie ingle side. She frets, an' greets, an' visits aft, In hopes some lad will see her hame; But never ane will be sae daft As tent auid Johnnie's flisky dame. John crackit o' his bob-tail'd yowes; An' a' the honours paid to him Wi' sicklike say he wan the day, Nell soon became his dashin' bride; But ilka joy soon fled away Frae Johnnie's canty ingle side; An' John will be a gaishen soon; His teeth are frae their sockets flown; Are now grown toom an' unco sma'; Let ilka lassie tak a man, An' ilka callan tak a wife; But youth wi' youth gae hand in hand, An' a' ye lasses, plump an' fair, Let pure affection guide your hand, Nor stoop to lead a life o' care For there was fretting late an' air, An' John will be a gaishen soon; His teeth are frae their sockets flown; The hair's peel'd aff his head aboon ; His face is milk-an'-water grown; His legs, that firm like pillars stood, Are now grown toom an' unco sma'; She's reaved him sair o' flesh an' blood An' peace o' mind, the warst of a'. May ilka lassie understand In time the duties of a wife; But youth wi' youth gae hand in hand, Let reason a' your passions sway, Ye lasses, lightsome, blithe, an' fair, Wi' doited age, for gear or land. DOCTOR MONROE. "DEAR Doctor, be clever, an' fling aff your beaver, Come, bleed me an' blister me, dinna be slow; I'm sick, I'm exhausted, my prospects are blasted, An' a' driven heels o'er head, Doctor Monroe !" "Be patient, dear fellow, your foster your fever; Pray, what's the misfortune that troubles you so?" "O, Doctor! I'm ruin'd, I'm ruin'd for everMy lass has forsaken me, Doctor Monroe! "I meant to have married, an' tasted the pleasures, The Doctor he flang aff his big-coat an' beaver, He took out his lance, an' he sharpen'd it so ; No judge ever look'd more decided or graver"I've oft done the same, sir," says Doctor Monroe, "For gamblers, rogues, jockeys, and desperate lovers, But I always make charge of a hundred, or so." The patient look'd pale, and cried out in shrill quavers "The devil! do you say so, sir, Doctor Monroe ?" "O yes, sir, I'm sorry there's nothing more common ; I like it—it pays-but, ere that length I go, |