Chapter II

Noo a' this leads up to my tale O' what befell puir Tam MacPhail, A dacent miner chiel in Fife Wha led a maist exemplar' life, An' ne'er abused himsel' wi' liquor, But took it canny-like an' siccar. Aye when he cast his wet pit-breeks, Tam had a gless that warm'd his cheeks; For as it trickled owre his craigie, He held it wardit aff lumbaigy. It wasna that he liked the dram, 'Twas pure needcessity wi' Tam! But twa years syne-or was it three?- Tam thocht that he was gaun to dee, An' Faith! they've often gar'd me grew By tellin' what I'll tell to you.