Scotland/Scots > Monthly scrap book, for May

JOHN AND JOAN,
A Domestic Talc.
Xo plate had John and Joan to hoard.
Plain folk in humble plight;
One only tankard crown’d their board.
And that was fill’d each night.
Along whose inner bottom sketch’d
In pride of chubby grace,
Some rude engraver’s hand had etch'd
A baby angel’s face.
John swallow’d first a mederate sup,
But Joan was not like John ;
Per when her lips first touch’d the cup.
She swill’d till all was gone.
John often urg’d her to drink fair
But she ne’er chang’d a jot;
She lov’d to see the angel there,
And therefore drain’d the pot.
When J-hn found a 1 remonstrance vain
Another card he play’d ;
And where the angel stood so plain,
He got a devil pourtray’d.
Joan saw the horns, Joan saw the tail,
Yet she as stoutly quaff’d ;
And ever w hen she seiz’d her ale,
She clear’d it at a draught.
John star’d, with wonder petrified,
His hair rose on his pate:
And ■ why dost guzzle now,’ he cried,
• At this enormous rate !’
‘Oh, John,’ said site, ‘ am I to blame ?-—
I can’t in conscience stop :
For sure ’twould be a burning shame,"
To leave the devil a drop 1’