You'd laugh to see the honest wives
Telling me how their household thrives;
For, you must know, I'm fam'd for skill
In the nice compound of a pill.
"Miss Sukey, here's a little lass,
She's not sae weel as what she was;
The peer peer bairn does oft complain, —
A'd tell ye where, but I think shame."
"Nay, speak, good woman, — mind not me;
The child is not quite well I see."
"Nea;" she says, "her belly aches,
And Jwohnie got her some worm-cakes;
They did nea good — though purg'd her well, —
What is the matter we can't tell;
She sadly whets her teeth at neet,
And a' the day does nought but freet;
It's outher worms, or wind, or water,
Something you know mun be the matter."
"My little woman, come to me;
Her tongue is very white I see;
Come, wrap her little head up warm,
And give her this, — 'twill do no harm;
'Twill give a gentle stool, or so."
"Is it a purge?"  "No, Peggy, no;
Only an easy gentle lotion,
To give her once a-day a motion;
For Pothecaries late have found
Diseases rise from being bound,
'Gainst which they've physic in their shop,
And many a drug, and useless slop;
This here will purify your blood,
And this will do your stomach good;
This is for vapours when splenetic,
And here's a cure for the sciatic;
But let her take what I have given,
'Twill help to keep your child from heaven."
"Lord grant it may! and if it do,
Long as I live I'll pray for you."