"'Twas near upon't as light as noon;
"'A largess,' on the hill,
"They shouted to the full round moon,
"I think I hear 'em still!
"But when they found the trick, my stars!
"They well knew who to blame,
"Our giggles turn'd to ha, ha, ha's,
"And arter us they came.
"Grace by the tumbril made a squat,
"Then ran as Sam came by,
"They said she could not run for fat;
"I know she did not try.
"Sue round the neathouse[Footnote: Cow-house.] squalling ran,
"Where Simon scarcely dare;
"He stopt,—for he's a fearful man—
"'By gom there's suffen[Footnote: Something.] there!'
"And off set John, with all his might,
"To chase me down the yard,
"Till I was nearly gran'd[Footnote: Strangled.] outright;
"He hugg'd so woundly hard.
"Still they kept up the race and laugh,
"And round the house we flew;
"But hark ye! the best fun by half
"Was Simon arter Sue.
"She car'd not, dark nor light, not she,
"So, near the dairy door
"She pass'd a clean white hog, you see,
"They'd kilt the day before.
"High on the spirket [Footnote: An iron hook.] there it hung,—
"'Now Susie—what can save ye?'
"Round the cold pig his arms he flung,
"And cried, 'Ah! here I have ye!'
"The farmers heard what Simon said,
"And what a noise! good lack!
"Some almost laugh'd themselves to dead,
"And others clapt his back.
"We all at once began to tell
"What fun we had abroad;
"But Simon stood our jeers right well;
—"He fell asleep and snor'd.