An’ each for other’s welfare kindly spiers;
The social hours, swift-winged, unnotic’d fleet;
Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears:
The parents, partial, eye their hopeful years;
Anticipation forward points the view;
The mither, wi’ her needle an’ her shears,
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new;
The father mixes a’ wi’ admonition due.
· · · · ·
But, hark! a rap comes gently to the door;