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life's reverses.
But that it micht oft to his memory restore
The mis'ry in which he ance stood at its door."
"An' were I," said Tam, "to see hundreds o' years,
No ane I'll let leave its gates sad or in tears."
"That nicht," said the squire, "came wi' blessin's to me—
It broucht to my ravish'd een sweet Jessie Lee,
An' aye since our weddin' we set it apart
For gi'en o' alms, an' rejoicin' in heart."
"Please leddies an' sirs," said a page steppin' ben,
"Wi' your leave I hae entered, to let you a' ken
That a wee sin' a puir shivrin' wife sought the ha'
Wi' a bairn, baith as frozen an' white as the snaw;
Her teeth chattered sae no a word could she speak,
But aye the big tears trickled down her cauld cheek;
Sae powerless her fingers, my hands took awa'
Frae their shouthers the garments a' laden wi' snaw,
To the waiting-room fire; then the tremblers I led,
An' hastened below for hot coffee an' bread,
With which I returned to the chamber fu' soon,
When I found the puir wifie had sunk in a swoon,
Whilst the cries o' the lassie ane's bluid micht hae chill'd,
An' soon wi' domestics the chamber was filled,
Wha restoratives tried wi' success in the end,
An' noo the puir weak anes wi' kindness they tend."
"We maun tend them oursel's," said the squire's leddy bright;
"Come, Tam, we best ken o' being out sic a night."
The mis'ry in which he ance stood at its door."
"An' were I," said Tam, "to see hundreds o' years,
No ane I'll let leave its gates sad or in tears."
"That nicht," said the squire, "came wi' blessin's to me—
It broucht to my ravish'd een sweet Jessie Lee,
An' aye since our weddin' we set it apart
For gi'en o' alms, an' rejoicin' in heart."
"Please leddies an' sirs," said a page steppin' ben,
"Wi' your leave I hae entered, to let you a' ken
That a wee sin' a puir shivrin' wife sought the ha'
Wi' a bairn, baith as frozen an' white as the snaw;
Her teeth chattered sae no a word could she speak,
But aye the big tears trickled down her cauld cheek;
Sae powerless her fingers, my hands took awa'
Frae their shouthers the garments a' laden wi' snaw,
To the waiting-room fire; then the tremblers I led,
An' hastened below for hot coffee an' bread,
With which I returned to the chamber fu' soon,
When I found the puir wifie had sunk in a swoon,
Whilst the cries o' the lassie ane's bluid micht hae chill'd,
An' soon wi' domestics the chamber was filled,
Wha restoratives tried wi' success in the end,
An' noo the puir weak anes wi' kindness they tend."
"We maun tend them oursel's," said the squire's leddy bright;
"Come, Tam, we best ken o' being out sic a night."
