V
Their master’s an’ their mistress’s command,
The younkers[322-18] a’ are warned to obey:
“An’ mind their labours wi’ an eydent[322-19] hand,
An’ ne’er, tho’ out o’ sight, to jauk[322-20] or play:
An’ O! be sure to fear the Lord alway!
An’ mind your duty, duly, morn an’ night!
Lest in temptation’s path ye gang astray,
Implore his counsel and assisting might:
They never sought in vain, that sought the Lord aright!”
VI
But hark! a rap comes gently to the door;
Jenny, wha kens the meaning o’ the same,
Tells how a neebor lad cam’ o’er the moor,
To do some errands and convoy her hame.[323-21]
The wily mother sees the conscious flame
Sparkle in Jenny’s e’e,[323-22] and flush her cheek;
With heart-struck, anxious care, inquires his name,
While Jenny hafflins[323-23] is afraid to speak;
Weel pleas’d the mother hears, it’s nae[323-24] wild, worthless rake.
VII
Wi’ kindly welcome, Jenny brings him ben:[323-25]
A strappin’ youth; he takes the mother’s eye;
Blythe Jenny sees the visit’s no ill ta’en;[323-26]
The father cracks[323-27] of horses, pleughs, and kye.[323-28]
The youngster’s artless heart o’erflows wi’ joy,
But blate[323-29] and laithfu’,[323-30] scarce can weel behave;
The mother, wi’ a woman’s wiles, can spy
What makes the youth sae[323-31] bashfu’ an’ sae grave;
Weel pleas’d to think her bairn’s respected like the lave.[323-32]
VIII
But now the supper crowns their simple board,
The halesome parritch,[324-33] chief o’ Scotia’s food:
The sowpe[324-34] their only Hawkie[324-35] does afford,
That ’yont the hallan[324-36] snugly chows her cood;[324-37]
The dame brings forth in complimental mood
To grace the lad, her weel-hain’d[324-38] kebbuck[324-39] fell—
An’ aft he’s prest, an’ aft he ca’s it guid;[324-40]
The frugal wifie, garrulous, will tell,
How ’twas a towmond[324-41] auld, sin’ lint was i’ the bell;[324-42]