2 32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
‘‘ But what, if dancing on the green, and skipping like a maukin,
If they should see my clouted shoon, of me they will be taukin’. ’
“ Dance aye high, and late at e’en, Janet, Janet ;
Syne 8’ you faults will no be seen, my jo, Janet.”
‘‘ Kind sir, for yonr courtesie, when ye gm to the cross, then,
For the love ye bear to me, buy me a pacing horse, then.”
‘‘ Pace upon your spinnin’ wheel, Janet, Janet ;
Pace upon yonr spinnii’ wheel, my jo, Janet.”
Unlike modern professional gentlemen, it was no part of Tam’s economy to
charm his friends out of their money ; it will not, therefore, be surprising that
his talents proved, in some measure, destructive of his industry. He frequently
felt the “pinging ” gnawings of an empty pocket j yet “poor but hearty ”
continued to be his motto-and
“ A cog 0’ gude swats an’ an anid Scottish sang,”
together with the approbation of his friends, were sufficient to set poverty and
care at defiance. Tam worked for many a day as a journeyman might, even
after he became precentor. He at length set up in a small way for himself, and
might have succeeded well ; but his customers were neglected, and his trade
gradually dwindled down by a species of consumption not uncommon in such
cases. Coffins were a staple commodity of Tarn’s manufacture, although he
could not properly be considered an undertaker; and, in this line, notwithstanding
his tippling propensities, and when almost every other species of
employment had left him, he continued to receive a degree of patronage. Even
on this grave subject the precentor’s drollery could not be restrained. When
any of his cronies (and many a one of them he screwed down in their last
narrow house) were complaining, he used to rally them with a very professional
observation--“ Hech, man, but ye smell sair 0’ fir.”
Tarn was employed on one occasion to make a coffin for a youth who had
died at Easter Duddingston, and in the evening he and his apprentice went to
take the article home. The coffin was inclosed in a bag, that it might be the
more easily carried. On arriving at the village of Duddingston, it being a
cold moonlight night in November, Tarn felt an irresistible desire to fortify
himself with a glass.’ He and his apprentice accordingly entered the first publichouse,
and having drunk a ‘(gill of the best,” the landlady was called in, and
Tarn began to explore his unfathomable pockets for the odd sixpence upon
which he had speculated, but not a bodle was there, Tam looked astonished,
apologised for the awkward aircumstance, and promised to “ look in ” as he
came past. But ‘( Na !”-the prudent hostess ‘‘ didna get her drink for naething,
and couldna let it gang that gait.” Tam promised, flattered, and threatened ;
but all would not do. (‘ Weel, weel,” said he, “ since ye’re sae doubtfu’ 0’ my
honesty, as I’m gaun to play at a bit dance out by at Easter Duddingston the
nicht, I’ll e’en leave the case 0’ my bass fiddle till I come back.” This seemed
to satisfy the landlady j and Tam, with the aid of his apprentice, soon unbagged
