Oh! just the way that it was ta'en, I SONG CXCI. THE SURPRIZE. Had a horfe, I had nae mair, I gat My purfe was light, and my heart was fair, I wrote a letter, and thus began, She read my letter and fhe leugh, Ye needna been fae blate, man; And made John Goukfton o' the laird, Then fhe pat filler in my purse, And are you fure he's weel? Is this a time to think o' wark? Ye jades, fling by your wheel. There's nae luck at a'; There's nae luck about the house, Is this a time to think of wark Rife up, and make a clean fire-fide, Put on the muckle pat; Gi'e little Kate her cotton gown, Mak' their fhoon as black as flaes, 'Tis a' to pleasure our goodman, He likes to fee them braw. There are twa hens into the crib, Mak' hafte, and thraw their necks about, Bring down to me my bigonet, My Turkey flippers I'll put on, Sae fweet his voice, fae fmooth his tongue, His breath's like cauler air, His very tread has mufic in't, Nae Luck about the House when our Goodwife's awa'. OU fing of your goodman frae hame, And tho' the goodwife ftay at hame, John does not toil for a'. There's nae luck about the house, There's nae luck at a', There's nae luck about the house When our goodwife's awa'. For there was nae luck about my house, And little for my wame, There was nae luck about my house For firft the bairns raise frae their bed, Then how could I attend my work, There's nae luck, &c. Their hands and faces were to wash, He made the pottage wanting salt, The hen and birds went to the fields, The cow, wanting her chaff and straw, There's nae luck, &c. The bairns fought upon the floor, And on the fire did fa'; Which vex'd the heart of honeft John, When Maggy was awa'. There's nae luck, &c. With bitten fingers and cutted thumbs, T Р Then went to please them with a scone, Ran to the well with twa new canns, The hens went to their neighbour's houfe, He little thought of Maggy's toil, Firft when he got the task in hand, On Saturday at night. There's nae luck, &c. He had no gain from wheel or reel, He wish'd for Maggy hame again, The de'il gaed o'er Jock Wabfter, There's nae luck, &c. Another want I do not name, There's nae luck, &c. |