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⟨very⟩ belly was a' sun burnt, and brown ⟨like⟩ a piper's bag, or the head of an old ⟨drum⟩; and yet he was a ruddy lown in ⟨the⟩ face, and his beard began to sprout ⟨out⟩ like herrin banes. He took thick ⟨brose⟩ to his breakfast, and baps and ale ⟨through⟩ the day, and when the coals ⟨sold⟩ dear, and the win' was cauld, ⟨bought⟩ an oven-farl, and twa Dunbar-(illegible text)eathers, or a Glasgow Magistrate, which fish-wifes ca' a wastlin herrin'.
His mither, auld Mary, plagued him ⟨ay⟩ in the morning, got up when the ⟨hens⟩ keckled, ringed the ribs, blew her ⟨snotter⟩-box, primed her nose, kindled ⟨her⟩ tobacco-pipe, and at every puff ⟨breathed⟩ out frettings against her hard ⟨fortune⟩ and lanely single life. O but a ⟨widow⟩ be a poor name; but I live in a ⟨wilderness⟩ in this lang lonen, mony a ⟨man⟩ gangs by my door, but few folks looks ⟨in⟩ to poor auld Mary, hoch hey, will I never win out o' this weary'd life. Wa' Sawny man, wa' Sawny man, wilt thou na rise the day; the sun's up, and a' the nibours round about; Willie and Charlie ⟨is⟩ to the hill an hour syne, and half gate ⟨hame⟩ again. Wilt thou rise an gie the beasts a bite, thou minds na them, I wat them.