Hame he goes in a passion, and to his bed he ran crying, O death, death! I thought the jade wad jumpet at me; no comfort nor happiness mair for poor me. O mither gar make my burial bread, for I’ll die this night or soon the morn.[49] But early next morning in comes auld Be-go his good mither, who had left her daughter in tears for the slighting o’ Sawny; and haules him and his mither away to get a dinner of dead fish, where a’ was agreed upon, the wedding to be upon Wednesday; no bridal fouks but the twa mithers and themselves twa.
So according to appointment they met at Edinburgh, where Sawny got the cheap priest,[50] who gave them twa three words, and twa three lines, took their penny and a good drink, wish’d them joy and gaed his wa’s. Now said auld Be-go, if that be your minister, he’s but a drunken b—h, mony a’ ane drinks up a’, but he leaves naething, he’s got that penny for deil haet, ye might cracket lufes on’t[51] and been as well, if no better; I have seen some honest men say mair o’er their brose[52] nor what he said a’ the gither, but an ye be pleas’d am pleas’d, a bout in the bed ends a’, and makes firm wark: so here’s to you, and joy to the bargain, its ended now well I wat.
COMICAL TRANSACTIONS OF LOTHIAN TOM.
[This is another unique specimen of the early chap-book from the library of George Gray, Esq. The original is in three numbers of eight pages each, breaks being made in the narrative without respect to any thing but the filling of requisite space. The first number bears the title:—‘The History and Comical Transactions of Lothian Tom. In Six Parts. Wherein is contained a Collection of Roguish Exploits done by him, both in Scotland and England,’ while the other two are but modifications of it. There is this addition on the third number:—‘Which contains a dialogue betwixt Tom and Pady about their questions, and Tom’s song.’ They were all printed in Niddery’s Wynd, Edinburgh: the first in 1775, the second in 1777; while the third is without date. Since the Introduction to these volumes was written we have seen an edition of this chap-book published by Morren, Cowgate, Edinburgh, without date. It is a 24 pp. 12mo., and contains all the material to be found in the edition from which the following pages are printed, including Tom’s Song. In this edition, however, ‘Pady’s New Catechism’ is made part VI., while part II. as in the 1775 edition, with additions and alterations, is incorporated into part I. The ‘Catechism,’ as already explained, does not seem to belong to this chap-book, but to ‘Pady from Cork.’]