Apparitions > Aloway Kirk, or, Tam o' Shanter, a tale

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That «t the L—d’s, even on Sunday,
Thou drank wif Kirkton Jean till Monday,
She prophesied that, late or soon,
Thou wad be found deep drown’d in Doon^
Or catch’d wi’ warlocks in the mirk,
By Aloway’s auld haunted Kirk.—
AIK gentle dames ! it gars me greet,
To think how many counsels sweet,
How many lengthen’d, sage advices,
The husband frae the wife despises 1
But to our Tale ; Ae market-night,
Tam had got planted unco right;
Past by an ingle, bleezing finely,
Wi’. reatnig swats, that drank divinely;
And, at his elbow, Souter Jonny,
His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony;
Tam lo’ed him like a vera brither;
They had been fou for weeks thegither :'
The night drave on w i’ sang* and clatter,-
And aye the ale was growing better :
The Landlady and TAM grew gracious,
Wi’ favours, secret, sweet, and precious f
The Soufer tauld her queerest stories.
The Landlords laugh was ready chorus :
The storm without might rair and rustic, ■
TAM didna mind tlie storm a whistle.—
Care, mad to see a man sae happy,
E’en drown’d himseif amaivg the nappy;
As bees dee home wi’ lades o’ treasure ;
The minutes wing’d their way wi’ pleasure ■