Page:Old maid and widow, or, The widow the best wife.pdf/20

Rh She studied aye her John to please,

By buskin snodly in her claes;

For Mary kent, tho’ hearts are won,

The task o’ love is never done;

An’ he wha has a sweetheart seen

Ay weel redd up, an’ tight, an’ clean,

Can hardly promise love for life,

If dirt, an rags deface the wife.

She ne’er forgot, that love requires,

Mair skill to beet, than light his fires:

The fairest flower, the sweetest joy,

If still the same, are apt to cloy;

The varied charm, the changing smile,

Can many a languid hour beguile;

An’ she, who wakes some infant grace,

Before unnoticed in her face,

May cold indifference still defy,

If some new glance light up her eye.

These simple truths— sae aft negleckit,

The prudent Mary aye respeckit;

We’ve said, that John was far frae clever,

She saw his wants— but tauld him never;

An’ when she had advice to gi’e,

She brought it o’er sae saft, an’ slee,

John hardly kent, but thought her kind,

For just complyin’ wi’ his mind.