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Far frae ilk kent spot she wandered,
Skulking like a guilty thief;
Here and there uncertain daundered,
Stupified wi' shame and grief.
But soon shame for bygane errors,
Fled owre fast for e'e to trace,
Whan grim death, wi' a his terrors,
Cam owre ilk sweet bairnie's face.
Spent wi' toil, and cauld, and hunger,
Baith down drapt, and down Jean sat!
Daized and doited now nae langer
Thought and felt, but bursting grat.
Gloaming fast wi' mirky shadow
Crap owre distant hill and plain;
Darkened wood, and glen, and meadow,
Adding fearful thoughts to pain.
Round and round, in wild distraction,
Jeanie turned her tearful e'e
Round and round for some protection!
Face nor house she couldna see.
Dark and darker grew the night' aye,
Loud and sair the cauld winds thud;
Jean now spied a sma' bit lightie
Blinking through a distant wood.
Up wi frantic haste she started,
Cauld nor fear she felt nae mair;
Hope, for ae bright moment, darted
Through the gloom of dark despair.
