Belyve, the elder bairns come drapping in, by-and-by, kids, dropping
At Service out, amang the Farmers roun’; among, round
30 Some ca’ the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin work, shepherd, attentively run
A cannie errand to a neebor town: private, neighbour
Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman-grown,
In youthfu’ bloom, Love sparkling in her e’e, eye
Comes hame, perhaps, to shew a braw new gown, home, show, fine
35 Or deposite her sair-won penny-fee, sore-, wages
To help her Parents dear, if they in hardship be.
With joy unfeign’d, brothers and sisters meet,
And each for other’s weelfare kindly spiers: welfare, inquires
The social hours, swift-wing’d, unnotic’d fleet;
40 Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears. news
The Parents partial eye their hopeful years;
Anticipation forward points the view;
The Mother, wi’ her needle and her sheers, scissors
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new; makes old clothes, almost, well
45 The Father mixes a’ wi’ admonition due.
Their Master’s and their Mistress’s command
The youngkers a’ are warned to obey; youngsters all
And mind their labors wi’ an eydent hand, diligent
And ne’er, tho’ out o’ sight, to jauk or play: fool around
50 ‘And O! be sure to fear the LORD always! always
And mind your duty, duly, morn and night!
Lest in temptation’s path ye gang astray, go
Implore His counsel and assisting might:
They never sought in vain that sought the LORD aright.’
55 But hark! a rap comes gently to the door;
Jenny, wha kens the meaning o’ the same. who knows
Tells how a neebor lad came o’er the moor, neighbour
To do some errands, and convoy her hame. home
The wily Mother sees the conscious flame
60 Sparkle in Jenny’s e’e, and flush her cheek; eye
With heart-struck anxious care, enquires his name,
While Jenny hafflins is afraid to speak; almost/partly
Weel-pleas’d the mother hears, it’s nae wild, no
worthless Rake.
With kindly welcome, Jenny brings him ben; inside
65 A strappan youth, he takes the Mother’s eye;
Blythe Jenny sees the visit’s no ill taen; taken
The Father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye. talks, ploughs, cattle
The youngster’s artless heart o’erflows wi’ joy,
But blate and laithfu’, scarce can weel behave; shy, hesitating, well
70 The Mother, wi’ a woman’s wiles, can spy cunning
What makes the youth sae bashfu’ and sae grave; so
Weel-pleas’d to think her bairn’s respected like the lave. well-, child’s, the others
O happy love! where love like this is found:
O heart-felt raptures! bliss beyond compare!
75 I’ve pacè d much this weary, mortal round,
And sage EXPERIENCE bids me this declare —
‘If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare,
One cordial in this melancholy Vale,
‘Tis when a youthful, loving, modest Pair,
80 In other’s arms, breathe out the tender tale
Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the ev’ning gale.’
Is there, in human form, that bears a heart —
A wretch! a villain! lost to love and truth!
That can, with studied, sly, ensnaring art,
85 Betray sweet Jenny’s unsuspecting youth?
Curse on his perjur’d arts! dissembling, smoothe!
Are Honor, Virtue, Conscience, all exil’d?
Is there no Pity, no relenting Ruth, sorrow
Points to the Parents fondling o’er their Child?
90 Then paints the ruin’d Maid, and their distraction wild?
But now the Supper crowns their simple board,
The halesome Porritch, chief o’ SCOTIA’S food; wholesome porridge
The soupe their only Hawkie does afford, drink/milk, cow
That, ‘yont the hallan snugly chows her cood; beyond, partition, chews
95 The Dame brings forth, in complimental mood,
To grace the lad, her weel-hain’d kebbuck, fell; well-matured cheese, tasty
And aft he’s prest, and aft he ca’s it guid; often, asked, calls, good
The frugal Wifie, garrulous, will tell, wife
How ‘twas a towmond auld, sin’ Lint was i’ the bell. 12 months old, flax, flower
100 The chearfu’ Supper done, wi’ serious face,
They, round the ingle, form a circle wide;
The sire turns o’er, wi’ patriarchal grace,
The big ha’-Bible, ance his Father’s
