The Auld Farmers New-Year-Morning Saluta（1 / 2）

1786

the auld farmer's new-year-morning salutation to his auld mare, maggie

on giving her the accustomed ripp of corn to hansel in the new year.

a guid new-year i wish thee, maggie!

hae, there's a ripp to thy auld baggie:

tho' thou's howe-backit now, an' knaggie,

i've seen the day

thou could hae gaen like ony staggie,

out-owre the lay.

tho' now thou's dowie, stiff, an' crazy,

an' thy auld hide as white's a daisie,

i've seen thee dappl't, sleek an' glaizie,

a bonie gray:

he should been tight that daur't to raize thee,

ance in a day.

thou ance was i' the foremost rank,

a filly buirdly, steeve, an' swank;

an' set weel down a shapely shank,

as e'er tread yird;

an' could hae flown out-owre a stank,

like ony bird.

it's now some nine-an'-twenty year,

sin' thou was my guid-father's mear;

he gied me thee, o' tocher clear,

an' fifty mark;

tho' it was sma', 'twas weel-won gear,

an' thou was stark.

when first i gaed to woo my jenny,

ye then was trotting wi' your minnie:

tho' ye was trickie, slee, an' funnie,

ye ne'er was donsie;

but hamely, tawie, quiet, an' cannie,

an' unco sonsie.

that day, ye pranc'd wi' muckle pride,

when ye bure hame my bonie bride:

an' sweet an' gracefu' she did ride,

wi' maiden air!

kyle-stewart i could bragged wide

for sic a pair.

tho' now ye dow but hoyte and hobble,

an' wintle like a saumont coble,

that day, ye was a jinker noble,

for heels an' win'!

an' ran them till they a' did wauble,

far, far, behin'!

when thou an' i were young an' skeigh,

an' stable-meals at fairs were dreigh,

how thou wad prance, and snore, an' skreigh

an' tak the road!

town's-bodies ran, an' stood abeigh,

an' ca't thee mad.

when thou was corn't, an' i was mellow,

we took the road aye like a swallow:

at brooses thou had ne'er a fellow,

for pith an' speed;

but ev'ry tail thou pay't them hollowm