Page:The fireside sphinx.djvu/197

 Rh

"The gudewife birrs wi' the wheel a' day,

Three threeds an' a thrum;

A walth o' wark, an' sma' time for play,

Wi' the lint sae white and worset grey

Work hard she maun, while sing I may,

Three threeds an' a thrum.

"The gudewife rises frae out her bed,

Wi' her cozey nicht-mutch round her head,

To steer the fire to a blaze sae red,

An' her feet I rub wi' welcome glad.

"I daunder round her wi' blythesome birr,

An' rub on her legs my sleek warm fur ;

Wi' sweeps o' my tail I welcome her.

An' round her rin, wherever she stir.

"The men-folk's time for rest is sma',

They 're out in the sunshine, an' out in the snaw,

Tho' cauld winds whistle, or rain should fa',

I, in the ingle, dae nought ava'.

"I like the gudeman, but loe the wife.

Days mony they 've seen o' leil and strife ;

O' sorrow human hours are rife ;

Their haud's been mine a' the days o' my life.

"Auld Bawthren grey, she kitten'd me here,

An' wha was my sire I didna spier ;

Brithers an' sisters smoor'd i' the weir,

Left me alane to my mither dear.

"As I grew a cat wi' look sae douse,

She taught me to catch the pilf'rin mouse ;

Wi' the thievish rottons I had nae truce.

But banished them a' frae the maister's house.