life's reverses.
29
They haud hallowdays noo, the vacation has cam',
An' weel they enjoy the hame visit o' Tam.
In their wonderfu' rescue frae poverty's fangs,
Hae they banished frae min' a' its horrible pangs;
An' rowin' in gowd, settled down on their lees,
Makin' up for the past wi' self-comfort an' ease?
Na, na, for miles roun' them they're blessed an' theyre roosed,
Their bounty's sae muckle, an' kindly diffused;
Disdainin' the thouchts o' display afore men—
What the richt han' performeth the left doesna ken.
"My bairns," quo the wife, "in our mind we maun bear
This gowd is a talent gi'en up to our care;
We are stewards o' it noo, an' maun gie an' account
O' its use or abuse, to the nicest amount.
We would peril our soul then if hoard it we dare,
When the owner commands that the needy get share;
Its rust a swift witness against us would be,
Besides there's nae mockin' His all seein' ee.
Many trusted wi' muckle, near fash at want's wail,
But when ca'd to account fondly think 'twill avail
To atone for the duties through life left undone
To gie what they can't haud to ilk charity fund.
O' that system, my bairns, no' a trial we'll mak',
Lest we meet in the end wi' an unco mistak';
For supposin' a king o' our ain had decreed
That a company should on a journey proceed,
A' frae his abundance gied plenty for a'
Tae stewards appointed, wi' written down law,
An' weel they enjoy the hame visit o' Tam.
In their wonderfu' rescue frae poverty's fangs,
Hae they banished frae min' a' its horrible pangs;
An' rowin' in gowd, settled down on their lees,
Makin' up for the past wi' self-comfort an' ease?
Na, na, for miles roun' them they're blessed an' theyre roosed,
Their bounty's sae muckle, an' kindly diffused;
Disdainin' the thouchts o' display afore men—
What the richt han' performeth the left doesna ken.
"My bairns," quo the wife, "in our mind we maun bear
This gowd is a talent gi'en up to our care;
We are stewards o' it noo, an' maun gie an' account
O' its use or abuse, to the nicest amount.
We would peril our soul then if hoard it we dare,
When the owner commands that the needy get share;
Its rust a swift witness against us would be,
Besides there's nae mockin' His all seein' ee.
Many trusted wi' muckle, near fash at want's wail,
But when ca'd to account fondly think 'twill avail
To atone for the duties through life left undone
To gie what they can't haud to ilk charity fund.
O' that system, my bairns, no' a trial we'll mak',
Lest we meet in the end wi' an unco mistak';
For supposin' a king o' our ain had decreed
That a company should on a journey proceed,
A' frae his abundance gied plenty for a'
Tae stewards appointed, wi' written down law,
