40
life's reverses.
The leddy still weak, but recovered an' cheered,
Mid her friends in the drawing-room shortly appear'd.
From Mrs Lees' wardrobe her person arrayed,
Whilst her countenance meekness and pleasure dis- played;
Her wee lassie, tae, wi' braw robes was supplied,
An' wi' childish delight her warm silken dress eyed,
Joined the bairns in their sports, but would aye noo an' then,
To peep at mamma, to the gran' room ran ben.
No questions were asked; but the leddy hersel'
Proposed to the kind anes her sorrows to tell:—
"My husband," she said, "was addicted to sports,
Turf an' gamin' saloons were his constant resorts;
To be brief,—it so happ'd, in a fortuneless hour,
Ill luck on his doomed head fell shower after shower,
When, driven to phrenzy, means, reason, a' fled,
Wi' a desperate courage his ain bluid he shed.
Lane, friendless, an' destitute then was my state,
Wi a heart rent wi' anguish I bowed to my fate;
Forsaken by a' wha ance friendship avowed,
How subdued grew my spirit sae haughty an' proud!
For my innocent babe how I wept an' I foucht,
Vi hardships on which I had ance little thoucht,
Till Heaven at length did my bosom inspire
To see my old home with a yearnin' desire.
I canna account for the purpose sae strong,
Which, despite o' my trembling limbs, bore me along,
Wi my wee tender lammie maist dead wi' the cauld—
Noo I see merey drove us pair sheep to the fauld."
Mid her friends in the drawing-room shortly appear'd.
From Mrs Lees' wardrobe her person arrayed,
Whilst her countenance meekness and pleasure dis- played;
Her wee lassie, tae, wi' braw robes was supplied,
An' wi' childish delight her warm silken dress eyed,
Joined the bairns in their sports, but would aye noo an' then,
To peep at mamma, to the gran' room ran ben.
No questions were asked; but the leddy hersel'
Proposed to the kind anes her sorrows to tell:—
"My husband," she said, "was addicted to sports,
Turf an' gamin' saloons were his constant resorts;
To be brief,—it so happ'd, in a fortuneless hour,
Ill luck on his doomed head fell shower after shower,
When, driven to phrenzy, means, reason, a' fled,
Wi' a desperate courage his ain bluid he shed.
Lane, friendless, an' destitute then was my state,
Wi a heart rent wi' anguish I bowed to my fate;
Forsaken by a' wha ance friendship avowed,
How subdued grew my spirit sae haughty an' proud!
For my innocent babe how I wept an' I foucht,
Vi hardships on which I had ance little thoucht,
Till Heaven at length did my bosom inspire
To see my old home with a yearnin' desire.
I canna account for the purpose sae strong,
Which, despite o' my trembling limbs, bore me along,
Wi my wee tender lammie maist dead wi' the cauld—
Noo I see merey drove us pair sheep to the fauld."
