Page:Old maid and widow, or, The widow the best wife.pdf/17

Rh For John wi’ ae five minutes travail,

Play’d rackabimus on the gavel;

Felt for the door— when in advancin’,

He saw a clear peat-ingle glancin’;

While at her wheel, there sat fu’ bizzie,

A rosy cheekit, sonsy hizzie;

She bang’d out o’er, rax’d him a chair,

John hirpled down, an’ leugh at care,

The ae-fau’d, open, honest heart,

Kens nought of affectation’s art:

The noblest bliss benev’lence knows,

Is pourin’ balm on human woes;

Such was the saul, inspired the form,

That welcom’d Johny frae the storm.

Saft pity’s smile, sae dear in women,

Was doubly sweet frae Mary Flemin’!

Her heart had kent baith joy and dool,

A scholar in misfortune’s school;

Ten years she’d been a married wife,

An dream’d o Willie’s love for life;

Death seized his prey in hapless hour,

An’ sorrow saddened Mary’s bower.

Five times the Spring had round her smiled,

Since fate her brightest hopes beguiled:

Slee Tine of bliss, an’ pain the thief,

By slow degrees, had banished grief;