Patie  to  me  is  dearer  than  my  breath,
But  want  of  him  I  dread  nae  other  skaith*.
There's  nane  of  a'  the  herds  that  tread  the  green
Has  sic  a  smile,  or  sic  twa  glancing  een.
And  then  he  speaks  with  sic  a  taking  art,
His  words  they  thirle  like  music  through  my  heart.
How  blythly  can  he  sport,  and  gently  rave,
And  jest  at  little  fears  that  fright  the  lave.
Ilk  day  that  he's  alane  upon  the  hill,
He  reads  foil  <  books  that  teach  him  meikle  skill ;
He  is— but  what  need  I  say  that  or  this,
I'd  spend  a  month  to  tell  you  what  he  is  !

I  Pettish.— m  Spoilt  child — "  Pettishly  refiuies  its  ftiod.—

0  Silly — P    Fret— q  Stares.  —  '  Cross-moods.— •  Harm

*■  Many.
In  a'  he  8a3r8  or  does  there's  sic  a  gmte.
The  rest  seem  coofs  compared  with  my  dear  Pftte;
His  better  sense  will  lang  his  love  secure :
Ill-nature  hefts  in  sauls  are  weak  and  poor.
Jenny.  Hey,  <<bonny  lass  of  BranksOTie !"  or  H
Your  witty  Pate  will  put  you  in  a  sang,  [be  lan^
0  'tis  a  pleasant  thing  to  be  a  bride  !
Syne  whinging  gets  about  your  ingle-aide^
Yelping  for  this  or  that  with  fasheous*  din :
To  make  them  brats  then  ye  maun  toil  and  spin.
Ae  wean  fa's  sick,  and  scads  itself  wi'  bme*,
Ane  breaks  his  shin,  anither  tines  his  shoe  :  [hdOj,
The  "  Deil  gaes  o'er  John  Wabster'' :"  hame  grovi
When  Pate  misca's  ye  waur  than  tongue  can  tefl.
