Classic Poem

A FABLE

S OME folks there are of such behaviour,
They'll cringe themselves into your favour,
And when you think their friendship staunch is,
They'll tear your character to inches:
T' enforce this truth as well's I'm able,
Please, reader, to peruse a fable.

Deborah, an auld wealthy maiden,
With spleen, remorse, and scandal laden,
Sought out a solitary spat,
To live in quiet with her cat,
A meikle, sonsy, taby she ane,
(For Deborah abhorr'd ache ane,)
And in the house, to be a third,
She gat a wee hen chucky bird.

Soon as our slee nocturnal ranger,
Beheld the wee bit timid stranger,
She thus began, with friendly fraise:
" Come ben, poor thing, and warm your taes,
This weather's cauld, and, wet, and dreary,
I'm wae to see you look sae eary,
Sirs! how your tail, and wings are dreeping!
Ye've surely been in piteous keeping;
See, here's my dish, come take a pick o't,
But, 'deed, I fear there's scarce a lick o't. "

Sic sympathizing words of sense,
Soon gain'd poor chucky's confidence,
And while Deborah mools some crumbs,
Auld baudrons sits and croodling thrums:
In short, the twa soon grew sae pack,
Chuck roosted upon pussie's back!

But e'er sax wee short days were gane,
When baith left in the house alane,
Then thinks the hypocritic sinner,
Now, now's my time to hae a dinner;
Sae, with a squat, a spring, and squal,
She tore poor chucky spawl frae spawl.

Then mind this maxim, — Rash acquaintance
Oft leads to ruin and repentance.