Their master's an' their mistress's command
The younkers a' are warned to obey;
An' mind their labours wi' an eydent hand,
An' ne'er tho' out o' sight, to jauk or
play:

"An' O! be sure to fear the Lord alway, 50 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!"

But hark! a rap comes gently to the door. 55 Jenny, wha kens the meaning o' the same, Tells how a neibor lad cam o'er the moor,

To do some errands, and convoy her hame. The wily mother sees the conscious flame Sparkle in Jenny's ee, and flush her cheek; 60 Wi' heart-struck, anxious care, inquires his

name,

While Jenny hafflins 10 is afraid to speak; Weel pleas'd the mother hears it's nae wild worthless rake.

Wi' kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben,"
A strappin youth; he takes the mother's

eye;

Blythe Jenny sees the visit's no ill taen; 66 The father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye.12

9

1 presently 2 drive 3 careful fine hard-won 6 asks 7 odds and ends 8 makes 10 diligent partly 11 within 12 COWS

317

1

The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi' joy, But, blate and laithfu', scarce can weel behave;

The mother wi' a woman's wiles can spy 70 What maks the youth sae bashfu' an' sae grave, Weel-pleas'd to think her bairn's respected like the lave.3

O happy love! where love like this is found! O heart-felt raptures! bliss beyond compare! I've paced much this weary, mortal round, 75 And sage experience bids me this declare "If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare,

One cordial in this melancholy vale,

-

'Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair, In other's arms breathe out the tender tale, 80 Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the ev'ning gale."

Is there, in human form, that bears a heart,
A wretch! a villain! lost to love and truth!

That can with studied, sly, ensnaring art

Betray sweet Jenny's unsuspecting youth? 85 Curse on his perjur'd arts! dissembling smooth!

Are honour, virtue, conscience, all exil'd? Is there no pity, no relenting ruth, Points to the parents fondling o'er their child, Then paints the ruin'd maid, and their distraction wild?

90

140

The saint, the father, and the husband prays:
Hope "springs exulting on triumphant wing,"
That thus they all shall meet in future days:
There ever bask in uncreated rays,
No more to sigh or shed the bitter tear,
Together hymning their Creator's praise,
In such society, yet still more dear,
While circling Time moves round in an eternal
sphere.

Compar'd with this, how poor Religion's pride
In all the pomp of method and of art, 146
When men display to congregations wide
Devotion's ev'ry grace except the heart!
The Pow'r, incens'd, the pageant will desert,
The pompous strain, the sacerdotal stole;
150
But haply in some cottage far apart