Page:Old maid and widow, or, The widow the best wife.pdf/19

Rh Without a friend to tak’ her part,

Or banish sorrow frae her heart:

She deemed, when measurin’, Johnny’s mind,

Her bairn mith still a father find;

So had compassion on the lad,

An’ was gudewife o’ Gowan fau’d!

A happy change there soon took place,

John shawed mair smeddum in his face;

Looked younger like by ha’f a score,

Than he had done for years before:

On Sundays, i’ the lang Kirk-loan,

The fint a chiel’ was drest like John,

Fu’ weel redd up, frae tap to tae,

His very shoon as black’s a slae.

Although their mailin’ was but scanty,

In warld’s gear they grew fu’ canty;

Love brough: them twa three thumpin’ childer,

They baith grew rich in bairns an’ silder.

An’ Mr. Preses, had you seen

Their canty house, sae trig and clean;

The blithesome looks that love bestowed,

The health on ilka cheek that glowed;

Your prayer wad been, (wi’ heart fu’ warm,)

‘A W’ love, and rural farm!’