The Sailors Tragedy/The Wee Wifukie

by Alexander Geddes

For other versions of this work, see The Wee Wifukie.

THE WEE WIFUKIE.

There was a wee bit wifukie,
and she gade till a fair,
She got a wee bit drapuke,
that cost her meikle care;
It gade about the wife’s heart,
an’ she was like to spew.
An’ O! quo’ the wee bit wifukie,
I wish I be nae fu’.

If Johny see me barley-sick,
I doubt he’ll claw my skis,
I’ll tak a wee bit napuckie,
before that I gae in:
Sae lyin' down at a dyke-side,
takin’ a wee bit nap:
By came a paukie packman,
wi' a wee bit pack.

He clippet a the wife's locks,
that gowden were and lang!
He took her pouch and pursukie,
an' fast awa' he ran;
The wife waken'd in a fright,
her head was light's a flee.
An' O! quo' the wee wifukie,
sure this is no me

When I was bonny Bessukie,
my locks they were like gowd,
l look'd like ony lassokie
whene'er that they were cow'd
An' Johny was aye tellin' me,
I was right fair to see;
But somebody has been fellin me,
for this is no me.

I met wi' kindly companie,
I birl'd my bawbee;
If I be bonny Bessukie,
three placks remain wi' me,
She put her haun down by her side,
to fin' gin it was she,
But neither pouch nor plack she had,
so this is no me.

I hae a wee bit housokie,
an' in't a kindly man?
A doggie they ca' Dossukie,
if it be me he'll fawn;
An' a' the bairns about the house
will ken if this be me,
But somebody's been sellin' me
for this is no me.

The night was cau'd an' di⟨ngin'⟩ wat,
an' now but it was ⟨mirk,⟩
The little doggie heard a f ot.
an' it began to bark;
An' when the doggie barked,
she kent it was nas she?
0 wael ken my Dossukie
that this is no me.

When Johny heard his Bessie's foot
fast to the door he ran;
Cryin', come awa' my bessukie;
it's no me goodman;
Be kindly to my bairns a',
an' weel may ye be;
Fare ye weel my Johnny, lad,
for this is no me

John ran to the minister,
his hair it stood on end;
I hae got sic a fright, Sir,
I fear I'll never mend;
My wife's come hame without a head,
crying' out most bitterly,
Fare ye weel my Johnny, lad,
for this is no me.

The tale you tell seems wondrous strange.
seams wondrous strange to me,
To think a wife without a head
could either speak or see:
The things that happen here awa,
are wonderful to me:
I cou’d assaist wi’ Bessie say,
’tis neither you nor she

When Johnny he came hame again,
his heart was unco fain.
To see his bonny Bessukie,
come to hersell again:
Sittin’ on a stoolikin,
an’ Tibbock on her knee;
Cryin’ come awa' my Johnny lad,
for this is no me quo she
for this is now me;
I’ve got a wee bit napokie,
and this is now me.

Then Johnny took her in his arms,
his heart was unco glad.
To see his bonny Bessukie,
now a’ right but the head;
Although you’ve lost your gowden locks,
your pouch and pursukie,
Come to your bed my Bessukie,
and happy we shall be.

FINIS.