Classic Poem

Mine ain wee, mensefu' mindfu' minny,
Sae couthy, kindly, cosh, an' canny,
Just sit ye still a wee, an' dinna
Tent your ain callant,
Until he sketch your picture in a
Wee hamely ballant.

There sit ye on your creepy stool,
Weel clad wi' flannen-coat an' cowl;
While simmering by the chumley jowl
Sits your tea-patty,
An' at your feet wi' kindly yowl,
Whurrs your wee catty.

And when the simmer comes wi' flowers,
On the door-stap thou sits for hours,
An' ilka birdie round thee cowers,
Cock, hen, an' chickens,
While wi' an open hand thou showers
Them walth o' pickin's.

An' tho' ye now are frail an' doited,
Your back sair bowed, your pace sair toyted,
Langsyne to ilka ploy invited,
Your queenly air
Made a' your neighbour dames sair spited
At tryst or fair.

On Sunday, when the kirk-bell's jow
Set ilka haly heart a-lowe,
To the auld kirk ye wont to row,
Toddlin' wi' me,
Aye welcomed by the Elder's bow
An' Pastor's ee.

Thou'st been to me my mair than mither,—
Mither and Faither baith thegither;
In days o' dearth thou didna swither
To scrimp thy coggie,
To schule an' cleed as weel's anither,
Thy wee wild roguie.

While manhood's vigour nerves my arm,
While in my breast life's blood rins warm,
Frae ilka danger, skaith, or harm
I'll keep thee free,
Till death shall break the mystic charm
An' close thine ee!