And billy to his son ye canna be.
"I sent ye to the schools, and ye wadna learn;
I bought ye books, and ye wadna read;
Therefore my blessing ye shall never earn,
Till I see with Bewick thou save my head."
"Now, God forbid, my auld father,
That ever sic a thing should be!
Billy Bewick was my master, and I was his scholar,
And aye sae weel as he learned me."
"O hold thy tongue, thou limmer loon,