Night frae hame/A Night Frae Hame

A NIGHT FRAE HAME.

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I've been thinking, I've been thinking,
I've been thinking a' day lang,
That yestreen when I was drinking
I was doing what was wrang.

I gaed out yestreen at gloaming,
To enjoy the caller air,
And amang the fields gaed roaming,
Simmer evening's sweets to share.

Fragrant zephyrs gently glided
O'er the flower-enamelled plain,
Where wi' Merey, Peace presided,
Far frae angry Strife's domain.

But as hamewards I was walking
I forgather'd wi' a frien',
Wha in raptures fell a-talking
O'the place where he had been.

Thoughtlessly I listen’d to him,
Till we reach'd a yill-house door,
Where the soun' o' voices drew him
To where he had been before.

Little dreaming wha was (illegible text)wi him,
I stept in to taste his cheer,
But before that I could lea' him
I paid for my folly dear.

Roun' a board where jugs and glasses
In admired disorder stood,
Sat a batch o' downright asses,
In a most uproarious mood.

Sangs an' cracks were intermingled,
Laughter too set up her din;
Jugs an' cans on crystal jingled,
Doubtless thinking silence sin.

For a wee I leuk'd disgusted
On the graceless roaring crew,
Till the drink my brains adjusted
To the squad, for I gat fou'.

Soon appeared, disguised as Pleasure,
Riot, and we join'd her train;
Folly too our wits wad measure,
And soon claim'd them as her ain.

Prudence lang ere this had left us,
No one had a thought o' hame,
For the drink had fairly reft us
O' what sober folk ca' shame.

Conversation turn'd to roaring,
Every ane wad hae his say,
Save a party wha lay, snoring
The effects o' drink away.

Contradiction wasna idle
In advising Strife to rise;
And the tongue without a bridle,
Food for passion soon supplies,

Personal abuse now quickly
Sent her arrows every where,
Till at last the blows fell thickly
On the ribs o' many there.

Black een follow'd bloody noses,
Oaths tremendous struck the ear;
This ane wi' big words opposes
That ane, if he seems to fear.

Braggarts never seem sae awfu’
As when in a tavern brawl;
Threats then some might think unlawfu'
On a' roun' them they let fall,

So yestreen, 'tween blows and boasting,
Sic a night was never spent,
Till at last the watch came posting,
And broke up our tournament.

Broken glasses, prostrate tables,
Thickly strew'd the yill-house floor,
Telliug mair than Æsop's fables
Ever told o' Folly's lore.

Coats without lappels gave ssrrow
To their owners' hearts I trou;
Others plainly felt neist morrow
Wad meet them wi' faces biue.

Watchmen took a dram, an' tauld us
To be aff withoat delay,
Or the lock-up wad infauld us
In its precious womb till day.

Quickly was our bill presented-
Landlords aye tak' care o' that-
And it was sae weel per cented,
It soon cured us o' our chat.

Faces black wi' blows grew blacker
When they heard the landlord's claim;
Some were swearing by their maker
They noo ken't the worth o‘ hame.

Fun, and even strife, subsided,
Dullness on us laid her han',
Tho' without, by wisdom guided,
Larks proclaim'd the cheering dawn.

Ane by ane we paid our quota,
Ane by ane we stacher'd hame;
Al' I'm vera certain not a
Soul amang us but thought shame.

O, my head! how lang will mortals
Dare great Nature's laws transgress?
Rushing headlong through the portals
That lead to such wretchedness.

But yestreen I left my dwelling
Wi' a mind serenely gay;—
Now my vera een are telling
What a man for drink must pay.

Temperance! thy couch of roses
Wisdom ever loves to share;
While Intemperance reposes
On the thorny breast o' Care.

Shun, then shun the road to ruim,—
Through the tavern's gate it lies ;
And believe me, while so doing,
On the wings of Joy ye'll rise.