74
the seaside village.
We may ha'e a look-out for his comin' ilk hour,
An' receive him wi' a' the respec' in our power,
I can fancy e'en noo his braw carriage in sight,
Quo' the innkeeper a' in a fuss wi' delight;
We maun e'en, said the postmaster, deck off the ha',
An' welcome my lord wi' a most splendid ba';
Ha'e a' things respectable, stan' nae at the cost,
We can soon clear it a', noo nae time to be lost;
This honour, my friends, is 0' greatest import,
'Twill mak' our gay village a' fashions resort.
"I maun gang," said a wifie, in braw satin gown,
"An' mak' known to my leddies wha's comin' to town;
What beautiful bustle we'll be in a' week,
For arrival will follow arrival gae quick!"
A' this time the mother wi' wide open een,
An' an ear to ilk speaker, stood viewin' the scene;
But nearer and nearer he drew to the door,
When he saw ilk gossip the letter turn o'er,
Keek in at the fauldin's, an' try, though in vain,
Some licht frae its hidden contents to obtain.
When the cronies had scann'd it a' round ane by ane,
"Now please," said he, "hand it to me if youre done,
When your curiosity's pleased, pray resign
This wonder to me till I gratify mine."
The postmaster, gaspin' wi' horror an' shame,
Secarce could falter "Is Lord H. Augustus ——— your name?"
"Just so," said the stranger, an', letter in han',
Passed out through the crowd, a' struck dumb to a man.
An' receive him wi' a' the respec' in our power,
I can fancy e'en noo his braw carriage in sight,
Quo' the innkeeper a' in a fuss wi' delight;
We maun e'en, said the postmaster, deck off the ha',
An' welcome my lord wi' a most splendid ba';
Ha'e a' things respectable, stan' nae at the cost,
We can soon clear it a', noo nae time to be lost;
This honour, my friends, is 0' greatest import,
'Twill mak' our gay village a' fashions resort.
"I maun gang," said a wifie, in braw satin gown,
"An' mak' known to my leddies wha's comin' to town;
What beautiful bustle we'll be in a' week,
For arrival will follow arrival gae quick!"
A' this time the mother wi' wide open een,
An' an ear to ilk speaker, stood viewin' the scene;
But nearer and nearer he drew to the door,
When he saw ilk gossip the letter turn o'er,
Keek in at the fauldin's, an' try, though in vain,
Some licht frae its hidden contents to obtain.
When the cronies had scann'd it a' round ane by ane,
"Now please," said he, "hand it to me if youre done,
When your curiosity's pleased, pray resign
This wonder to me till I gratify mine."
The postmaster, gaspin' wi' horror an' shame,
Secarce could falter "Is Lord H. Augustus ——— your name?"
"Just so," said the stranger, an', letter in han',
Passed out through the crowd, a' struck dumb to a man.
