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"What's the matter, Watty, wi' you?"Troth, your chafts are fa'in' in!"Something's wrang—I'm vex’t to sce you—"Gudesake! but ye're desperate thin!"
"Ay," quo' Watty, things are alter't,"But it's past redemption now,"Lord! I wish I had been haltert"When I marry'd Maggy Howe!
"I've been poor, an' vex't, an' raggy,"Try't wi' troubles no that sma';"Them I bore—but marryin' Maggy"Laid the cape-stane o' them a'.
"Night an' day she's ever yelpin',"Wi' the weans she ne'er can gree;"Whan she's tir'd wi' perfect skelpin',"Then she flees like fire on me.
"See ye, Mungo! when she'll clash on"Wi' her everlasting clack,"Whyles I've had my neive, in passion,Liftet up to break her back?"
"O, for gudesake, keep frae cuffets!"Mungo shook his head and said,"Weel I ken what sort o' life it's;"Ken ye, Watty, how I did?
"After Bess an' I war kippel't,"Soon she grew like ony bear,"Brack my shins; an', when I tippel't,"Harl't out my very hair.
"For a wee I quietly knuckel't,"But whan naething wade prevail,
