Page:Old maid and widow, or, The widow the best wife.pdf/16

Rh D’ye ken the cause?— he had nae wife,

An’ that’s a waefu’ want in life;

Sair langed he for the married state,

But cudna court, he was sae blate.

It happened anes in cauld December,

A time he’d ’cassion to remember,

Upon a journey he was gaun,

When fierce the storm begude a blawin’;

Bauld Boreas raged o’er a’ the lift,

His throne thick clouds o’ snawy drift,

John set his bosom to the blast,

Till gloamin’ faded i’ the wast:

Nor house, nor hald could now be seen,

Sma’ pirlin’ drift bedimm’d his een;

Whiles stoitin’ o’er a frosty know,

Neist founderin’ headlang in a how;

Warslin’ frae ae wreath to anither,

John tint his farrach a’ thegither.

But just when he on death was thinkin’,

Gleg in his e’e, a light came blinkin’;

He stendit now, wi’ courage crouse,

Persuaded he would find a house.

Hope aft-times cheats the chiel wha trusts her,

This night for anes, the quean was juster;