THE CAT TRIUMPHANT 169 



&quot; The gudewife birrs wi the wheel a day, 



Three threeds an a thrum ; 



A walth o wark, an sma time for play, 



Wi the lint sae white and worset grey 



Work hard she maun, while sing I may, 



Three threeds an a thrum. 



&quot; The gudewife rises frae out her bed, 

 Wi her cozey nicht-mutch round her head, 

 To steer the fire to a blaze sae red, 

 An her feet I rub wi welcome glad. 



&quot; I daunder round her wi blythesome birr, 

 An rub on her legs my sleek warm fur ; 

 Wi sweeps o my tail I welcome her, 

 An round her rin, wherever she stir. 



&quot; The men-folk s time for rest is sma , 

 They re out in the sunshine, an out in the snaw, 

 Tho cauld winds whistle, or rain should fa , 

 I, in the ingle, dae nought ava . 



&quot; I like the gudeman, but loe the wife, 

 Days mony they ve seen o leil and strife ; 

 O sorrow human hours are rife ; 

 Their haud s been mine a the days o my life. 



&quot; Auld Bawthren grey, she kitten d me here, 

 An wha was my sire I didna spier; 

 Brithers an sisters smoor d i the weir, 

 Left me alane to my mither dear. 



&quot; As I grew a cat wi look sae douse, 

 She taught me to catch the pilf rin mouse ; 

 Wi the thievish rottons I had nae truce, 

 But banished them a frae the maister s house 



