Page:Beauties of Burn's poems.pdf/119

the fourth a Highland-Donald, hastie, And d-n'd Kilburnie blastie: Forbye a cowte, o' cowtes the wale, As ever ram afore a tail; Gin he be spar'd to be a beast, He'll draw me fifteen pand at least.- Wheel carriages I hae but few, Three carts, and twa are feckly new; An auld wheel-barrow, mair for token, Ae leg and baith the trams are broken; I made a poker o' the spindle, And my auld mother burnt the trundle.- For men, I've three mischievous boys, Run-deils for rantin and for noise ! A gadsman ane, a thrasher t'other, Wee Daveck hauds the nowte in fother." I rule them, as I ought, discreetly, And aft-n labour them completely: And aye on Sundays, duly nightly, I on the questions tairge them tightly; Till, faith, wee Davock's turn'd sae gleg; Tho' scarcely langer than my leg, He'll screed you aff Effectual-Calling As fast as 'ony in the dwalling.- I've nane in female servin station, (L-d keep me aye frae a' temptation!) I hae nae wife, and that my bliss is, And ye hae laid nae tax on misses; For weans, I'm mair than weel contented, Heav'n sent me ane mair than I wanted; My sonsie, smirking, dear-bought Bess, She stares the daddy in her face, Enough of ought you like but grace;