The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 87
My Boy Tammy
My Boy Tammy.
[And whar gat ye that young thing,
My boy Tammy?
I got her dewn in yonder howe,
Smiling on a broomie knowe,
Herding ae wee lamb and ewe,
For her puir mammy.]
"What said ye to the bonnie bairn,
My boy Tammy?
I praised her e'en, sae lovely blue,
Her dimpled cheek and cherry mou';—
I pree'd 1 it aft, as ye may trow!2
She said she'd tell her mammy.
I held her to my beating heart,
My young, my smiling lammie!
I ha'e a house, it cost me dear,
I've walth 3 o' plenishin' and gear;
Ye'se 4 get it a', were't ten times mair,
Gin 5 ye will leave your mammy.
The smile gaed aff her bonnie face—
I maunna lave my mammy!
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claes,6
She's been my comfort a' my days:—
My faither's death brought mony waes 7—
I canna leave my mammy.
We'll tak' her hame and mak' her fain,
My ain kind-hearted lammie.
We'll gi'e her meat, we'll gi'e her claes,
We'll be her comfort a' her days.
The wee thing gi'es her hand, and says—
There! gang and ask my mammy.
Has she been to the kirk wi' thee,
My boy Tammy?
[unclear: Gl] Las been to the kirk wi' me,
[unclear: nd] the tear was in her e'e;
For O! she's but a young thing,
Just come frae her mammy.
1 Tasted.
2 Believe.
3 Plenty.
4 Ye shall.
5 If.
6 Clothee.
7 Many woes.