"What's the matter, Watty, wi' you? "Ay," quo' Watty, "things are alter'd, "I've been poor, and vex'd, and raggy, "Night and day she's ever yelping, "See ye, Mungo! when she'll clash on Whiles I've had my nieve, in passion "O for gudesake keep frae cuffets!" "After Bess and I were kippled, "For a wee I quietly knuckled; But when naething could prevail, "Then her din grew less and less aye, "Try this, Watty-When ye see her Swear that moment that ye'll lea' her; Laughing, sangs, and lasses' skirls, In the thrang o' stories telling, Maggy's weel kent tongue and hurry nor your legs were broken! "Rise, ye drucken beast o' Bethel! ! Drink's your night and day's desire; Watty heard her tongue unhallow'd, Fowk frae every door cam lamping, Hame, at length, she turned the gavel, Kicking stools and chairs about. "Ye'll sit wi' your limmers round you! Watty, wha, 'midst this oration, Sad his wee drap brose he sippet, "Nane are free frae some vexation, But through a' the hale creation A' night lang he row't and gaunted, Soon as e'er the morning peepet, "Fareweel, Meg! and oh! may Heaven "Happy, cou'd I been beside you, "But you ever like to see me, Vext and sighing late and eir; Fareweel, Meg! I've sworn to lea' thee, So thou'lt never see me mair.' "Meg, a' sabbing sae to lose him, "O, my Watty, will you lea' me, Frien'less, helpless, to despair! "Owre the seas I march this morning, "Then poor Maggy's tears and clamour Gush'd afresh, and louder grew; While the weans wi' mournfu' yamour, Round their sabbing mother flew. "Thro' the yirth I'll wander wi' you- "See your puir young lammies pleading, Dighted baith his een and spake. "If ance mair I cou'd by writing, Lea' the sodgers and stay still, Wad ye swear to drap your fliteing!" "Yes, O Watty, yes I will." "Then," quo' Watty, "mind be honest; "Marget Howe! this hour ye solemn "That ye'll ne'er in Mungo's seek me- Never gloom when I come hame. "That ye'll ne'er, like Bessie Miller, This upo' your saul you swear?" "O-h!" quo' Meg;-" Aweel," quo' Watty, Maggy syne, because he prest her, Down he threw his staff victorious; Here is a study of North British rustic manners, in which the public-house is clothed with the most seductive charms that the most skilful adjustment of circumstances, ingeniously founded on the maladministration of domestic life, can accomplish. CHAPTER VI. SCOTTISH USAGES-continued. National objection to Solitary Drinking-Stratagem to frustrate it-Baillie Days-Harbour Usages-Steam Boat Usages-Wages-Unloading VesselsMagistrates' Notice-Creeling-Coal Mines-Sailors-Blacksmiths-Printers -Female Hat Manufacturers-Hoc Manè-Salmon Fishers-Despotism of the Usages-Seamen. IN Scotland there still exists a loathing terror, even in the regular drunkard, at being considered a solitary drinker; and, but for the amazing number of drinking usages, (so convenient for Scotch topers,) this would be an element of transcendent usefulness in temperance reformation. A man, although craving for the base enjoyment, dares not, in general, even in his own house, ask a dram for himself from the cupboard; or if he could be supposed to have so far given way to appetite, his wife could with extremest difficulty be got to accede to his request, if the liquor was to be drunk by himself, without some stranger to partake. Such a one, however, has been known to achieve his purpose in a circuitous method:-He goes out and secretly invites a neighbour to come in on pretence of business the case now changes; etiquette not only removes all objections to his dram, but demands the appearance of the whisky-bottle-and the character of the mistress of the house for courtesy is now at stake, and the necessity of solitary operations superseded. Many men have been known in Scotland to live as drunkards, and as drunkards to die, by drowning or other accident while in a state of intoxication, and yet who scarce ever had been known to drink alone;—a very singular national trait, and worthy of the most profound consideration, in connexion with the subject of which we are treating, and to which we may be permitted again to recur. In country places, when half-a-dozen men are working together at some job, on the motion of one, more forward or thirsty than the rest, they will join together for a dram. When small farmers are behind-hand in their ploughing, their neighbours occasionally give them a day's work, (called in some parts a baillie-day,) when whisky is given to the ploughmen at the average of seven glasses per man throughout the day this may be intended for refreshment, but it is partly in the way of courtesy and etiquette, and its result is often to drive the whole party to a public-house revel in the evening. A joint newspaper is frequently rouped, i. e. auctioned among the subscribers, and the price spent by them in whisky. In the small harbours, at export of corn and potatoes, there is a whisky usage called sack-money; and if it be not granted, the parties will keep or cut a sack in revenge. In discharging cargoes of coals, slates, and other commodities, the consignee is expected to treat the crew, the carters, and weighers, or to be considered as mean and paltry. The freight and wages are afterwards generally paid in a public-house, and part of it drunk. A party of Paisley operatives treating their families to a steam-boat jaunt on the Frith of Clyde, it was observed that one of their number was collecting money among the rest; the reason of which was, that he being fond of music, had resolved that this elegant gratification should be added to the pleasures of the party; and he had at his own risk provided a bass and two violins for the occasion. He was at the same |