Wi' kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben; 24 23 A strappan youth, he taks the mother's eye; The father cracks 25 of horses, pleughs, and kye." But blate 27 an' laithfu',28 scarce can weel behave: What maks the youth sae bashfu' an' sae grave, O, happy love! where love like this is found! And sage experience bids me this declare, — 'Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair In other's arms breathe out the tender tale, Is there, in human form, that bears a heart, - 30 Is there no pity, no relenting ruth,3 Points to the parents fondling o'er their child? But now the supper crowns their simple board! 31 The healsome parritch,31 chief o' Scotia's food: The soupe 32 their only hawkie 33 does afford, That 'yont 34 the hallan 35 snugly chows her cood: To grace the lad, her weel-hained 36 kebbuck,37 fell,38 An' aft he's pressed, an' aft he ca's it good; The frugal wifie, garrulous, will tell, How 'twas a towmond 39 auld,40 sin 41 lint was i' the bell." The cheerfu' supper done, wi' serious face, His bonnet reverently is laid aside, 44 His lyart haffets 45 wearin' thin an' bare; Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide, He wales 46 a portion with judicious care; And "Let us worship God," he says, wi' solemn air. They chant their artless notes in simple guise; The tickled ears no heartfelt raptures raise; The priest-like father reads the sacred page, With Amalek's ungracious progeny; Or, how the Royal Bard 48 did groaning lie Perhaps the Christian volume is the theme, How guiltless blood for guilty man was shed; The precepts sage they wrote to many a land: Saw in the sun a mighty angel stand, [command. And heard great Babylon's doom pronounced by Heaven's Then kneeling down to Heaven's Eternal King, No more to sigh, or shed the bitter tear, While circling time moves round in an eternal sphere. 44 Gray. 45 The temples, the sides of the head. 46 Chooses. 48 David. 47 The names of Scottish psalm-tunes. 49 Saint John. 50 An island in the Archipelago, where John is supposed to have written the book of Revelation. Compared with this, how poor Religion's pride, 51 May hear, well pleased, the language of the soul; Then homeward all take off their several way; And proffer up to Heaven the warm request For them and for their little ones provide; But, chiefly, in their hearts with grace divine preside. From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeur springs, That makes her loved at home, revered abroad; Princes and lords are but the breath of kings, "An honest man's the noblest work of God;' And certes,52 in fair virtue's heavenly road, The cottage leaves the palace far behind: What is a lordling's pomp? a cumbrous load, Disguising oft the wretch of human-kind, Studied in arts of hell, in wickedness refined! O Scotia! my dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent! Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil Be blessed with health, and peace, and sweet content! And, O! may Heaven their simple lives prevent From luxury's contagion, weak and vile! Then, however crowns and coronets be rent, A virtuous populace may rise the while, And stand, a wall of fire, around their much-loved isle. O Thou! who poured the patriotic tide That streamed through Wallace's undaunted heart, Who dared to, nobly, stem tyrannic pride, Or nobly die, the second glorious part (The patriot's God peculiarly Thou art, His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward), O never, never, Scotia's realm desert: But still the patriot, and the patriot bard, In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard! JOHN WOLCOTT. 1738-1819. (Manual, p. 370.) 252. The Razor Seller. A fellow in a market town, Most musical, cried razors up and down, As every man would buy, with cash and sense. A country bumpkin the great offer heard: And proudly to himself, in whispers, said, "No matter if the fellow be a knave, It certainly will be a monstrous prize." And quickly soaped himself to ears and eyes. Being well lathered from a dish or tub, Hodge now began with grinning pain to grub, "Twas a vile razor! then the rest he tried All were impostors. "Ah!" Hodge sighed, Hodge sought the fellow found him. Sirrah! I tell you, you're a knave, To cry up razors that can't shave." "Friend," quoth the razor-man, "I'm not a knave: As for the razors you have bought, Upon my soul I never thought That they would shave." "Not think they'd shave!" quoth Hodge, with wondering eyes, And voice not much unlike an Indian yell; "What were they made for then, you dog?" he cries: "Made!" quoth the fellow, with a smile, "to SELL." - RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN. 1751-1816. (Manual, p. 371.) FROM "THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL." 253. THE Old Husband and the Young Wife. Sir Peter Teazle. But here comes my helpmate! She appears in great good humor. How happy I should be if I could tease her into loving me, though but a little! Enter LADY Teazle. Lady Teaz. Lud! Sir Peter, I hope you haven't been quarrelling with Maria? It is not using me well to be ill humored when I am not by. Sir Pet. Ah, Lady Teazle, you might have the power to make me good humored at all times. Lady Teaz. I am sure I wish I had; for I want you to be in a charming sweet temper at this moment. Do be good humored now, and let me have two hundred pounds, will you? Sir Pet. Two hundred pounds; what, a'n't I to be in a good humor without paying for it! But speak to me thus, and i' faith there's nothing I could refuse you. You shall have it; but seal me a bond for the repayment. Lady Teaz. O, no there my note of hand will do as well. Sir Pet. And you shall no longer reproach me with not giving you an independent settlement. I mean shortly to surprise you: but shall we always live thus, hey? Lady Teaz. If you please. I'm sure I don't care how soon we leave off quarrelling, provided you'll own you were tired first. Well then let our future contest be, who shall be Sir Pet. most obliging. Lady Teaz. I assure you, Sir Peter, good nature becomes you. You look now as you did before we were married, when you used to walk with me under the elms, and tell me stories of what a gallant you were in your youth, and chuck me under the chin, you would; and ask me if I thought I could love an old fellow, who would deny me nothing didn't you? Sir Pet. Yes, yes, and you were as kind and attentive. Lady Teaz. Ay, so I was, and would always take your part, when my acquaintance used to abuse you, and turn you into ridicule. Sir Pet. Indeed! Lady Teaz. Ay, and when my cousin Sophy has called you a stiff, peevish old bachelor, and laughed at me for thinking of marrying one who might be my father, I have always defended you, and said, I didn't think you so ugly by any means. Sir Pet. Thank you, |