Wi' merry sangs, an' friendly cracks,
I wat they did na weary; [wot]
And unco tales, an' funny jokes,-- [strange]
Their sports were cheap and cheery;
Till butter'd sow'ns,[19] wi' fragrant lunt, [smoke]
Set a' their gabs a-steerin'; [tongues wagging]
Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt, [Then, liquor]
They parted aff careerin'
Fu' blythe that night.
FOOT-NOTES TO HALLOWEEN
[The foot-notes to this poem are those supplied by Burns himself in
the Kilmarnock edition.]
[4] Is thought to be a night when witches, devils, and other
mischief-making beings, are all abroad on their baneful, midnight
errands: particularly, those aerial people, the fairies, are said, on
that night to hold a grand anniversary.
[5] Certain little, romantic, rocky, green hills, in the neighbourhood
of the ancient seat of the Earls of Cassilis.
[6] A noted cavern near Colean-house, called the Cove of Colean;
which, as well as Cassilis Downans, is famed in country story for
being a favourite haunt of fairies.
[7] The famous family of that name, the ancestors of Robert, the great
Deliverer of his country, were Earls of Carrick.
[8] The first ceremony of Halloween is pulling each a _stock_, or
plant of kail.
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