Grand history on curious subjects, both entertaining and pleasant/The Taylor and the Laird

The Taylor and the Laird.

NOW by my needle, sheers, and a’
⁠I mean my bread to won,
With thimble and my lawboard both,
⁠Until my days be done.

But I was rather be a laird,
⁠And have a piece of land,
With wealth of cash into my purse,
⁠My cane into my hand.

Such braw sine clothes the lairds do wear,
⁠Made of the wool so fine,
With ruffles wagging at their sleeves,
⁠When I have rags at mine.

A set of liverymen they have,
⁠Attends them every day,
The lairds they have a canny life,
⁠To spend their time away.

But I have sheers and needles both,
⁠And laboard a’ the three,
My goose is not a-wanting then,
⁠They servants are to me.

So here I can as canty be,
⁠As any laird in Fife,
To earn my crooked pence each day,
⁠And come hame to my wife.

There many a dark and rainy night,
⁠And many a morning soon,
I have to gang thro’ dirty roads,
⁠And whiles I have the moon.

When lairds bide in a sclated house,
⁠Within a plaister’d room,
And warm their shoes and read the news
⁠And never fash their thumb.

Altho’ the hardships many are,
⁠That do attend my trade,
I seldom get a scanty meal,
⁠But whiles a rheeffy bed.

I'll bring my mind unto my lot,
⁠And then I’ll happy be.
They are not come of Adam’s seed,
⁠That are of hardships free.

 

FINIS.