Note VIII. A pigmy scraper on a fiddle, Wha us’d to trystes and fairs to driddle. To driddle. A contemptuous phrase applied to the walking or other motions of people who are deformed, or diminutive in stature. Note IX. At kirns an' weddings we'se be there, A Scotch wedding lasted three or four days in ancient times: Feasting, dancing, and other merriment, afforded rare doings for the strolling minstrels. Note X. And while I kittle hair on thairms. Note XI. Wi' ghastly ee, poor Tweedle-dee To sit on one's hunkers, to sit with the hips hanging downwards, and the weight of the body depends ing on the knees. No. XII. An' by that stowpe, my faith an' hope, An' by that dear Keilbagie ! May I ne'er weet my craigie! This is a deeply-solemn oath for a tinker ; but it must be remembered that his resources never failed while any of his neighbours' property remained unsecured. The faith to be put in their curses is pro-verbial. That dear Keilbagie. Keilbagie is a well-known kind of whiskey, in great request among the jovial inhabitants of Posie NANSJE's barn. Note XIII. Her lord, a wight of Homer's craft, Tho' limpin' wi' the spavie, O boot that night. The strolling bard seems rejoiced at getting rid of one of his doxies ; and merrily shores, ar makes a blythe threatening promise of the tune called “Dainty Davie,' into the bargain. Note XIV. I am a bard, of no regard Wi' gentle-folks, an' a' that ; Frue town to town I draw that. The glowran-byke. Byke is a term applied to a swarm of bees. Here it means a multitude of people, whom the bard draws from their houses, like so many bees, to listen to his lilting. Note XV. They toom’d their pocks, they pawn'd their duds. i.e. they emptied their wallets, and pawn'd their rags. FINIS, PAGE 2 ye, 161 163 172 66 76 127 142 141 82 65 137 37 S6 117 63 34 107 22 89 17 108 94 51 27 133 PAGE 60 6 12 My ain kind dearie 0 ye Johnnie cummin, quo' she 145 57 47 68 . |