Explore "A Change O' Deils" by Violet Jacob on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"A change o' deils is lichtsome." / "Scots Proverb".
My Grannie spent a merry youth, / She niver wantit for a joe, / An gin she tell't me aye the truth, / Richt little was't she kent na o'.
An' whiles afore she gae'd awa' / To bed her doon below the grass, / Says she, "Guidmen I've kistit[6] twa, / But a change o' deils is lichtsome, lass!"
Sae dinna think to maister me, / For Scotland's fu' o' brawlike chiels, / And aiblins[7] ither folk ye'll see / Are fine an' pleased to change their deils.
Aye, set yer bonnet on yer heid, / An' cock it up upon yer bree, / O' a' yer tricks ye'll hae some need / Afore ye get the best o' me!
Sma' wark to fill yer place I'd hae, / I'll seek a sweethe'rt i' the toon, / Or cast my he'rt across the Spey / An' tak' some pridefu' Hieland loon.
I ken a man has hoose an' land, / His airm is stoot, his een are blue, / A ring o' gowd is on his hand, / An' he's a bonnier man nor you!
But hoose an' gear an' land an' mair, / He'd gie them a' to get the preen / That preened the flowers in till my hair / Beside the may-bush yestre'en.
Jist tak' you tent, an' mind forbye, / The braw guid sense my Grannie had, / "My Grannie's dochter's bairn am I," / "And a change o' deils is lichtsome, lad!"