Grand history on curious subjects, both entertaining and pleasant/The Weaver and the Laird

The Weaver and the Laird.

FOR, by shuttle and my loom,
⁠I intend my bread to won,
If Providence a blessing send,
⁠If not, I am undone.

But I would rather be a laird,
⁠And wear a better coat,
And have a guinea in my purse,
⁠When I have but a groat,

The lairds they do get on to ride.
⁠When I maun trudge and gang;
So I must take shanks naggie for’t,
⁠Altho’ my joutney’s lang.

The lairds to kirk and market ride,
⁠With boots and spurs also,
When I must run upon my shanks
⁠Whatever place I go.

But with my lot I’ll be content,
⁠Altho’ of money scant,
I’ve reason to be thankful still
⁠I never needs to want.

So here I may as happy be,
⁠As kings that’s high in state,
The thought’s the place of happiness,
⁠And there it hath its seat.

Then let me work a piece of stuff,
⁠To keep us from the cold,
Yet every day that I do rise,
⁠mortality I’m told.

My clothes they wear and do grow thin,
⁠Unfit me warm to keep,
My body tires, I must have rest,
⁠To bed, I maun have rest.

And other lessons which I hear
⁠Continually abounds,
Of death and trouble every where,
⁠In village or in towns.

For to attain some yellow dust
⁠man’s mind and body racks,
But all that they will get of earth,
⁠Is the breadth of their backs.