4
He wish'd to save, even every sma' expense,
Tho' toom their wames, an' bare their backs at once.
Now he had siller lent to different han's,
On houses, and on property in lan's;
At length, some partial loss did him alarm,
He gather'd up his stock, an' eaſt a farm.
An' now his paying, an' his grief began,
Which kept him always an unhappy man:
A house to bigg, cost him a great expense—
His parks to lime, an' drain, an' plough, an' fence.
A horse, an' eart, an' graith he had to buy,
A plough an' harrows, sheep, an' swine, an' kye.
'Mang ither events, too, his only son
Was gotten hame, an' by him elristen'd John.
Thus howdies, banquets, something every day,
At ilka eorner gar'd him draw an' pay.
Sad was his ease, for mony a body doubtet
He wad ha'e dee't, or gane stark mad about it.
His purse gaed toom! Al! desperate, dark despair,
It didna do, he had to barrow mair.
By various means, howe'er, the farm was stoeket,
An' to the saving an' the wark he yocket,
By day he plan'd, an' wrought; by night he dreain'd
O'sehemes to get his farm frae debt redeem'd:
This end obtain'd, he aye grew worse an' worse,
An' a' he got was stappit in the purse.
His ain guid eorn an' meal he dear did sell,
An' eaft auld mould thing for to ser' themsel;
This damag'd stuff he got about the shore,
They ate less o't, this was a mighty fore ![1]
- ↑ Avarice excludes all natural and social affections from the human breast. It is incompatiable with elevation of mind; with benevolence, generosity, humanity, confidence, and candour—with love and true friendship, with paternal tenderness and filial affection. What Virtue then remains for the miser? What happiness can a man without moral goodness enjoy?
