The Laddies Dear Sel

    the laddie's dear sel'

    there's a youth in this city, it were a great pity

    that he from our lassies should wander awa';

    for he's bonie and braw, weel-favor'd witha',

    an' his hair has a natural buckle an' a'.

    his coat is the hue o' his bonnet sae blue,

    his fecket is white as the new-driven snaw;

    his hose they are blae, and his shoon like the slae,

    and his clear siller buckles, they dazzle us a'.

    for beauty and fortune the laddie's been courtin;

    weel-featur'd, weel-tocher'd, weel-mounted an' braw;

    but chiefly the siller that gars him gang till her,

    the penny's the jewel that beautifies a'.

    there's meg wi' the mailen that fain wad a haen him,

    and susie, wha's daddie was laird o' the ha';

    there's lang-tocher'd nancy maist fetters his fancy,

    —but the laddie's dear sel', he loes dearest of a'.