Page:John Falkirk's cariches (1).pdf/23

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23

how to gude it; for pride is an unperfect fortune, and a ludicrous life will not last long.

 Another sort I see, who has got more silver than sense, more gold than goud

nature, more muslins and means than good manners, tho' a sack can hold their silver, six houses and a half cannot contain their ambitious desires. Fortunatus' wonderful purse would fail in fetching in the fourth part of their worldly wants, and the children imitate their mothers, chattering like hungry cranes crying still, I want! I want! ever craving, wilfully wasting, till all be brought to a doleful dish of desolation, and with cleanness of teeth, a full breast, an empty belly, big pockets without pence, pinching penuary, perfect poverty, drouth, hunger, want of money and friends both, old age, dim eyes, feeble joints, without shoes or clothes the real fruits of a bad marriage, which brings thoughtless fop to both faith and repentance in one day.

 Thirdly. Another thing I see, hear and cannot help, is the breeding of bairns,

and bringing them up like bill-stirks: they gie them wealth of meat but no manners. But when I was a bairn, if I did not bend to obedience, I ken mysel what I got, which learn'd me what to gie