18
To dine, at length she was advised;
Grade gtowrin* hen like ane surprised;
Spread wide her gown, her head ereckted,
Confus’d and awkwardly she hecked;
While rev’rend Mess John, kind and fair
Conducted her unto a chair;
An’ told them wi’ a knacky sentence,
She was an intimate acquaintance.
Rlate like, aroun’ them a’ she gaz’d;
But at the table was amaz’d,
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,
Bade them fa’ on, an’ lih’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,
She therefore also like the priest,
Prin’d the cloth firmly to her breast,
(Wi’ a prin two inches long at least;)
Which smiles frae them at table drew,
As far’s gude breeding wad allow.
