23
She ne'er before saw siken fairlies,
Sae mony antic tirly-whirlies,
How to behave while she was eating,
In sic a nicy, gentle meeting,
She had great fears--her heart was beating,
Her legs did shake--her face was sweating,
But still she was resolved anon,
To do in a' things like Mess John.
A' ready sitting face to face,
His rev'rence, gravely, said the grace;
Then, wi' a frank an open air,
Bid them fa' on, an' lib'ral share.
But he, being with the palsy troubl'd,
In lifting spoonfu's often dribbl'd,
Sae to prevent the draps o' broth,
He prin'd to's breast the table cloth.
Now Margret's settled resolution,
Was quickly put in execution;
For, as was said already, she did
Resolve to do whatever he did,
Sho therefore also like the priest,
Prin'd the cloth firmly to her breast,
(Wi' a prin twa inches lang at least;)
Which smiles frae them at table drew,
As far's gude breeding wad allow.
Sae soon as they the kail had supp d,
To glancin' knives and forks they gripp'd,
Wi' them to weel fill'd plates fell keenly;
Ate--took a drink--an' crackit frien'ly.
But Margret only was a hearer,
She was sae blate; nought seem'd to cheer her,
Sae mony things appearing new,
Cam' ilka minute in her view,
And fill'd her mind sae fu' o' dread,
Cracking was clean out o' her head.
In course, the Pastor, her example,
That brought her there to feed her ample,
She notic'd twa or three times take
