The Book of Scottish Song/Handsome Katie

Handsome Katie.

[Buchanan.—Tune, "Sleepy Maggie."]

Now winter comes, wi' breath sae snell,
And nips wi' frost the gizen'd gowan,
Yet frosty winter, strange to tell!
Has set my thrawart heart a-lowin'.

O dearest, charming Katie!
O sweetest, winsome Katie!
My heart has flown across the loan,
To dwell wi' my sweet neibor Katie.

When a' the chiels, wi' noses blae,
Creep chitt'rin' roun' the cantie ingle,
Through sleet an' snaw to Kate I gae,
Drawn wi' a whang o' Cupid's lingle.
O dearest, &c.

When our back door I gang to steek,
And bonnie Kate, frae her back winnock,
Gi'es a bit slee an' smilin' keek,
It warms me like a toasted bannock.
O dearest, &c.

To sleep I try, bat no ae wink;
(Frae hapless luve, may fate aye screen us!)
I sprawl an' fidget, whan I think
There's nought but a wee loan atween us.
O dearest, &c.

Langsyne Leander ilka night
Swam o'er the sea at Hero's biddin';
But if my Kate wad me invite,
I've nought ado but jump the midden.
O dearest, &c.

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