Page:Art of courtship (2).pdf/14

14)

He paid mony visits all her; and to keep in wi Hab the miller, He endeavor’d aft to make him happy, Whre’er he kend the ale was nappy; Sic condescension in a pastor. Knit Halbert’s love to him ay faster. And by his converse (faith his true) Hab learn'd to preach when he was son. Thus all the three were wonder pleas'd, The wife weel fair'd the man weel eas'd. This ground his corn, and that did cherish Himself with dining round the parish. Bess, the goodwife thought it nae skaith. Since she was fit to serve them baith.

When equal is the night and day. And Cerus gives the schools the play, A youth sprung frae a gentler pater. Bred at Saint Andrew's a’ma-mater, Ae day gain hameward, it fell late. And him benighted by the gate; To lie without, pit-mirk did shore him, He coudna fee his thumb before him; But clack—clack— clack, he heard a mill, Whilk led him by the lugs theretil. To tak the thread of tale alang, This mill to Halbert did belang, Not less this none your notice claims, The scholar's name was Master James.

Now smiling muse, the prelude past, Smoothly relate a tile at last,