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'.