Page:Miser and the prodigal, a moral tale.pdf/6

 Jock, master now, began to act wi' spirit

Providin' things to get his father burriet.

“He's left me plenty," Jock was heard to say,

“He pinch'd me lang, we'll hae ae jolly day."

The day was cauld, the liquor guid an' strong,

An' freely it was drunk by auld an' young,

The glass gaed roun' till some began to nod,

They gat him out at length, an' took the road—

Fast they gaed on, an'dash'd thro' thick an' thin,

While some were comin' singin' far ahin.

“He,” cried auld men, wi' dirt bedaubed claise,

“Ne'er gaed to town sae merry a' his days,"

Some fell an' spew'd, the stoutest onward drave,

An' gat the auld man happit in his grave.

Frae clags and claims, debts and mortgages clear—

A farm weel worth a hunder pounds a year;

Besides the stock o' gear, which wasna sma',

And siller likewisc Jock was laird o' a'.

His father's guid auld warks he did despise,

(Folk wha are rich soon fancy they are wise,)

He bigget houses, muekle, stark, an' fine—

Heigh garden dykes, and fruit trees planted syne:

Caft a new gig, kept bluid-marcs—races ran;

Rade bruises too, an' mighty wagers wan.

Had hounds, an' pointer-dogs, o' various breeds—

Catch'd maukins, pertricks shot—did manly deeds.

Horse couper turn'd, lec't, bred an unco steer,

An' cheated simple bodies far an near.

Now he was seldom seen at hame ava'—

Wad уe him seek? then at the yill-house ca'.

He learn'd to drink, an' stay'd without regard,

Mang dyvour ehiels, wha frais'd, an' ca'd him laird;

They drank, he pay't; nought pleas'd sae inuckle now,

As drinking hard, an' filling ithers fu'.

His cash gaed dune—sell’t ae park, syne anither,