life's reverses.
41
"An' a fauld an' a hame you shall still hae wi' me,
Puir child o' affliction," exclaimed Mrs Lee.
"Oh! bless that affliction," the sheltered ane cried,
"That broke up this stubborn heart's hardness an' pride;
Yet, at wealth's want o' feelin' I wonder not noo,
The warm sun aye beamin', nor raindrops nor dew
O' adversity fallin' to saften the earth,
Or ca' o' compassion ae leaf into birth:
Oh! bless that affliction, again and again,"
She added, the saut tears fast drappin' like rain,
To the far altered Clara ilk heart fondly drew,
Affliction's hot furnace refined she'd come through.
A' noo loved the leddy in widow weeds clad,
Wi' broo ever placid, an' smile soft an' sad,
Wha would pause in her walk ilka puir ane to greet,
An' kindness impart wi' humility sweet.
Wi' her bairn she was welcomed to Mrs Lee's hearth,
To be to that kind ane a dochter henceforth;
An' thankfu' she turned frae the wild stormy past,
Avw' in shade o' life's vale gained true quiet at last,
Enjoy'd virtue, won peace ne'er experienced o' yore
When wi' pride an' ambition her hard heart ran oer.
An' aye when she heard o' adversity's cloud
Gath'rin' threat'nin' an' dark o'er the wealthy an' proud,
"'Tis mercy's cool shower," she would fervently sigh,
"The heart's soil was aiblins too sun-parch'd an' dry
To foster the germs 'neath the baked surface bound,
Which may sweetly spring up from the grief-moistened ground;
Puir child o' affliction," exclaimed Mrs Lee.
"Oh! bless that affliction," the sheltered ane cried,
"That broke up this stubborn heart's hardness an' pride;
Yet, at wealth's want o' feelin' I wonder not noo,
The warm sun aye beamin', nor raindrops nor dew
O' adversity fallin' to saften the earth,
Or ca' o' compassion ae leaf into birth:
Oh! bless that affliction, again and again,"
She added, the saut tears fast drappin' like rain,
To the far altered Clara ilk heart fondly drew,
Affliction's hot furnace refined she'd come through.
A' noo loved the leddy in widow weeds clad,
Wi' broo ever placid, an' smile soft an' sad,
Wha would pause in her walk ilka puir ane to greet,
An' kindness impart wi' humility sweet.
Wi' her bairn she was welcomed to Mrs Lee's hearth,
To be to that kind ane a dochter henceforth;
An' thankfu' she turned frae the wild stormy past,
Avw' in shade o' life's vale gained true quiet at last,
Enjoy'd virtue, won peace ne'er experienced o' yore
When wi' pride an' ambition her hard heart ran oer.
An' aye when she heard o' adversity's cloud
Gath'rin' threat'nin' an' dark o'er the wealthy an' proud,
"'Tis mercy's cool shower," she would fervently sigh,
"The heart's soil was aiblins too sun-parch'd an' dry
To foster the germs 'neath the baked surface bound,
Which may sweetly spring up from the grief-moistened ground;
