They footed owre the watery glass so neat, Or when they struck auld Scotia's melting airs, While simple melody pour'd moving on the heart. The Genius of the Stream in front appears, A venerable Chief advanced in years; Next follow'd Courage with his martial stride, * A well-known performer of Scottish music on the violin. Benevolence, with mild, benignant air, A female form, came from the towrs of Stair: The broken iron instruments of death; [wrath. At sight of whom our Sprites forgat their kindling THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. TO R. A****, ESQ. INSCRIBED My loved, my honour'd, much respected friend! My dearest meed, a friend's esteem and praise: The lowly train in life's sequester'd scene; November chill blaws loud wi' angry sugh; And weary, o'er the moor, his course does hameward bend. At length his lonely cot appears in view, Beneath the shelter of an aged tree; Th' expectant wee things, toddlin, stacher through To meet their dad, wi' flichterin noise an' glee. His wee bit ingle, blinkin bonnily, His clean hearth-stane, his thriftie wifie's smile, The lisping infant prattling on his knee, Does a' his weary carking cares beguile, An' maks him quite forget his labour an' his toil. Belyve, the elder bairns come drapping in, At service out, amang the farmers roun'; Some ca' the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin A cannie errand to a neebor town: Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman grown, In youthfu' bloom, love sparkling in her ee, Comes hame, perhaps, to shew a braw new gown, Or deposit her sair-won penny-fee, To help her parents dear, if they in hardship be. Wi' joy unfeign'd brothers and sisters meet, An' each for other's welfare kindly spiers: The social hours, swift-wing'd, unnoticed fleet; Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears: The parents, partial, eye their hopeful years; Anticipation forward points the view. The mother, wi' her needle an' her sheers, Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the new ; The father mixes a' wi' admonition due. Their master's an' their mistress's command, "An' mind their labours wi' an eydent hand, An' oh! be sure to fear the Lord alway! An' mind your duty, duly, morn an' night, Lest in temptation's path ye gang astray, Implore his counsel and assisting might: They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright:" But hark! a rap comes gently to the door; Sparkle in Jenny's ee, and flush her check; Weel pleased the mother hears, it's nae wild, worthless rake. Wi' kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben; A strappan youth; he taks the mother's eye; Blythe Jenny sees the visit's no ill ta'en; The father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye. The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi' joy, But blate and laithfu', scarce can weel behave; The mother, wi' a woman's wiles, can spy What maks the youth sae bashfu' an' sae grave; Weel pleased to think her bairn's respected like the lave. O happy love! where love like this is found! "Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair, In others' arms breathe out the tender tale, [gale." Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening Is there, in human form, that bears a heart- Betray sweet Jenny's unsuspecting youth? Points to the parents fondling o'er their child? Then paints the ruin'd maid, and their distraction wild? But now the supper crowns their simple board, That 'yont the hallan snugly chows her cood: The frugal wifie, garrulous, will tell How 'twas a towmond auld, sin' lint was i' the bell. His bonnet reverently is laid aside, His lyart haffets wearing thin an' bare; Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide, He wales a portion with judicious care; And "Let us worship God!" he says, with solemn They chant their artless notes in simple guise; They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim: [air. |