Page:Old maid and widow, or, The widow the best wife.pdf/7

Rh Tho’ mair than anes she’d got the glaiks,

Frae flightered fools, or worthless rakes,

She shawed a sober prudent carriage,

An’ still revered the state of marriage.

What tho’ the rose had left her cheek,

Her hair was buskit up fu’ sleek;

Her weel plait mutch fu’ deep was worn,

To hod the scores upon her horn;

She keekit daily in her glass,

An’ thought hersel’ a spankin’ lass.

Syne mused on mony a wile, auld-farran’,

Into the warld to catch her errand.

In blinkin’ days, when bees were bumin’,

This decent, sober, prudent woman,

Bangs out her blankets— twenty pair,

Hung round the dykes to get the air;

Lang blads o’ linen, wabs of harn,

Enow to theekit Watty’s barn.

Twal pair o’ sheets, an’ sarks, a score,

Lay bleachin’, just afore the door.

Kate had the knack to play her cartes,

Tho’ Watty dreamt na of her arts:

She saw the lad come yont the gate,

An’ wow! she lookit mim and blate!

As Watty passed, the sleekit hizzy,

Was turnin’ o’er her duds fu’ bizzy,