THE

WAES O' WAR.

PART I.

On that folk wad weel consider
What it is to tyne a-NAME,
What this warld is a' thegither,
If bereft o' honest fame!

Poortith ne'er can bring dishonour; Hardships ne'er breed sorrow's smart, If bright CONSCIENCE taks upon her To shed sunshine round the heart.

But wi' a that walth can borrow,
Guilty shame will ay look down;

What maun then shame, want, and sorrow,
Wandering sad frae town to town!

JEANIE MILLER, ance sae cheerie !
Ance sae happy, good and fair,
Left by WILL, neist morning dreary
Taks the road o' black despair!

Cauld the blast!the day was sleeting;
Pouch and purse without a plack!
In ilk hand a bairnie greeting,

And the third tied on her back.

Wan her face! and lean and haggard!
Ance sae sonsy! ance sae sweet!
What a change !-unhous'd and beggar'd,
Starving without claise or meat!

Far frae ilk kent spot she wander'd,
Skulking like a guilty thief;
Here and there, uncertain, daunder'd,
Stupified wi' shame and grief.

But soon shame for bygane errors
Fled owre fast for ee to trace,

Whan grim Death, wi' a' his terrors,
Cam owre ilk sweet bairnie's face!

Spent wi' toil, and cauld and hunger,
Baith down drapt! and down Jean sat!
"Daiz'd and doited" now nae langer,
Thought-and felt-and, bursting, grat,

Gloaming, fast wi' mirky shadow-
Crap owre distant hill and plain;
Darken'd wood, and glen and meadow,
Adding fearfu' thoughts to pain!

Round and round, in wild distraction,
Jeanie turn'd her tearfu' ee!
Round and round, for some protection !→→→
Face nor house she cou'd na see!

Dark, and darker grew the night ay;
Loud and sair the cauld winds thud!
Jean now spied a sma bit lightie
Blinking through a distant wood.

Up wi' frantic haste she started;
Cauld, nor fear, she felt nae mair;
HOPE, for ae bright moment, darted
Through the gloom o' dark despair!

Fast owre fallow'd lea she brattled;
Deep she wade through bog and burn;
Sair wi' steep and craig she battled,
Till she reach'd the hop'd sojourn.

Proud, 'mang scenes o' simple nature,
Stately auld, a mansion stood

On a bank, wha's sylvan feature
Smil'd out-owre the roaring flood.

Simmer here, in varied beauty

Late her flowery mantle spread; Whar auld chesnut, ake, and yew-tree, Mingling, lent their friendly shade,

Blasted now, wi' Winter's ravage;
A' their gaudy livery cast;
Wood and glen, in wailings savage,
Sugh and howl to ilka blast!

Darkness stalk'd wi' Fancy's terror ;Mountains mov'd, and castles rock'd! JEAN, hauf dead wi' toil and horror, Reach'd the door, and loudly knock'd.

"Wha thus rudely wakes the sleeping?" Cried a voice wi' angry grane ;— Help, oh help!' quo' Jeanie, weeping, 'Help my infants, or they're gane !'

Nipt wi' cauld!—wi' hunger fainting!
Baith lie speechless on the lea!
५ Help!' quo' Jeanie, loud lamenting,
6 Help my lammies! or they'll die!'

"Wha this travels cauld and hungry, "Wi' young bairns sae late at e'en ? "Beggars!' cried the voice, mair angry, "Beggars! wi' their brats, I ween."

6 Beggars now, alas! wha lately 'Helpt the beggar and the poor!? "Fye, gudeman!" cried ane, discreetly, "Taunt nae poortith at our door,"

"Sic a night, and tale thegither, "Plead for mair than anger's din: "Rise, Jock !" cried the pitying mither, "Rise! and let the wretched in."

" Beggar now, alas! wha lately
'Helpt the beggar and the poor :'—
"Enter !" quo' the youth fu' sweetly,
While up flew the open door.

Beggar, or what else, sad mourner! "Enter without fear or dread;

"Here, thank God! there's aye a corner "To defend the houseless head!

"For your bairnies cease repining; "If in life, you'll see them soon."Aff he flew; and brightly shining

Thro' the dark clouds brak the moon.