An' then at ony start or flare, 



Thou wad'st hac worried furiouslye ; 



While I was forced to curse an' swear, 

 Afore thou wad'st forbidden be. 



Yet wad she clasp thy towzy paw ; 



Thy gruesome grips were never skaithly ; 

 An' thou than her hast been mair true, 



An' truer than the friend that gae thee. 



Ah me ! o' fashion, self, an' pride, 

 Mankind hae read me sic a lecture ! 



But yet it's a' in part repaid 



By thee, my faithful, grateful Hector ! 



O'er past imprudence, oft alane 

 I've shed the saut an' silent tear ; 



Then sharin' a' my grief an' pain, 



My poor auld friend came snoovin' near. 



For a' the days we've sojourned here, 

 An' they've been neither fine nor few, 



That thought possest thee year to year, 

 That a' my griefs arose frae you. 



Wi' waesome face an' hingin' head, 



Thou wad'st hae pressed thee to my knee ; 



While I thy looks as weel could read, 

 As thou had'st said in words to me ;— 

 I 12 



