11
See them now—how changed wi' drinking!
A' their youthfu’ beauty gane!—
Davered, doited, daized, and blinkin’,
Worn to perfect skin and bane!
In the cauld month o’ November
(Claes, and cash, and credit out),
Cow'ring owre a dying ember,
Wi'ilk face as white’s a clout;
Bond and bill, and debts a’ stopped.
Ilka sheaf selt on the bent;
Cattle, beds, and blankets rouped❋—
Now to pay the laird his rent.
No another night to lodge here,
No a friend their cause to plead;
He ta’en on to be a sodger,
She, wi’ weans, to beg her bread!
PART III.
Oh, that folk wad weel consider
What it is to tine a—name;
What this world is a’ thegither,
If bereft o’ honest fame!
Poortith ne’er can bring dishonour,
Hardships ne’er breed sorrow's smart,
If bright conscience taks upon her
To shed sunshine round the heart.
But wi’ a’ that wealth can borrow,
Guilty shame will aye look down;
What maun then shame, want and sorrow,
Wandering sad frae town to town!
❋Sold by auction.
