Belyve the elder bairns come drapping in,[17] At service out, amang the farmers roun'; Some ca'[18] the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin 30 A cannie errand to a neebor town:[19] Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman grown, In youthfu' bloom, love sparkling in her e'e,[20] Comes hame, perhaps, to shew a braw[21] new gown, Or deposite her sair-won penny-fee,[22] 35 To help her parents dear, if they in hardship be. With joy unfeigned brothers and sisters meet, And each for other's weelfare kindly spiers:[23] The social hours, swift-winged, unnoticed fleet; Each tells the uncos[24] that he sees or hears. 40 The parents, partial, eye their hopeful years; Anticipation forward points the view; The mother wi' her needle and her sheers[25] Gars auld claes look amaist as weel 's the new;[26] The father mixes a' wi' admonition due. 45 Their master's and their mistress's command The younkers[27] a' are warned to obey; And mind their labors wi' an eydent[28] hand, And ne'er, though out o' sight, to jauk[29] or play: "And O! be sure to fear the Lord alway, 50 And mind your duty, duly, morn and night; Lest in temptation's path ye gang[30] astray, Implore His counsel and assisting might: They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright!" But hark! a rap comes gently to the door; 55 Jenny, wha kens[31] the meaning o' the same, Tells how a neebor[32] lad came o'er the moor To do some errands, and convoy her hame. The wily mother sees the conscious flame Sparkle in Jenny's e'e, and flush her cheek; 60 With heart-struck, anxious care, inquires his name, While Jenny hafflins[33] is afraid to speak; Weel pleased the mother hears, it's nae[34] wild, worthless rake. With kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben;[35] A strappin' youth, he takes the mother's eye; 65 Blithe Jenny sees the visit's no ill taen;[36] The father cracks[37] of horses, pleughs, and kye.[38] The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi' joy, But blate and laithfu',[39] scarce can weel behave; The mother, wi' a woman's wiles,[40] can spy 70 What makes the youth sae[41] bashfu' and sae grave; Weel-pleased to think her bairn's respected like the lave.[42] O happy love! where love like this is found: O heart-felt raptures! bliss beyond compare! I've paced much this weary, mortal round, 75 And sage experience bids me this declare,-- "If Heaven a draught of heav'nly pleasure spare, One cordial, in this melancholy vale, 'T is when a youthful, loving, modest pair In other's arms breathe out the tender tale 80 Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the ev'ning gale."