University of Virginia Library


163

THE DAYS THAT ARE GEANE.

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Tune,—“The muckin' o' Geordie's byre.

Now, weyfe, sin the day-leet hes left us,
And drizzly sleet's 'ginnin to fa',
Let's creep owre the heartsome turf ingle,
And laugh the weyld winter awa';
Contented, thou spins the lang e'enin',
And I wi' my peype envy neane;
Then why shou'd we peyne about riches—
Let's think o' the days that are geane.
This crazy auld chair, when I think on't,
Nae wonder a tear blins my ee;
'Twas e'en my puir fadders, God rest him!
He valued this warl nit a flea:
His maxim was, be guid, and dui guid;
To mortal he wadna gie pain—
My chair's mair than gilded throne to me,
It prop'd the leel fellow that's gane.

164

Thy wheel that's gien cleedin' to monie,
O' mortals ay puts me i' meynd;
The spoke now at top, is suin lowest,
And thus it oft fares wi' mankeynd:
The clock, clickin', tells how Teyme passes,
A moment he'll tarry for neane;
Contented we'll welcome to-morrow,
Ay thankfu' for days that are geane.
Now fifty shwort years hae flown owre us,
Sin furst we fell in at the fair;
I've monie a teyme thowt, wi' new pleasure,
Nae weyfe cud wi' Jenny compare:
Tho' thy rwose has gien way to the wrinkle,
At changes we munna complain;
They're rich, whea in age are leet-hearted,
And mourn nit for days that are geane.
Our bairns are heale, hearty, and honest,
And willinly toil thro' the year;
Our duty we ay hae duin ti' them,
And poverty e'en let them bear:
Theer's Jenny hes larnin', and manners,
And Wully can match onie yen;
We tought tem my guid fadder's maxim,
And they'll bliss the auld fwok, when geane.

165

Theer's ae thing I lang, lang hae pray'd for,
Sud tyrant Deeth teer thee away,
And rob me o' life's dearest treasure,
May he gie me a caw the seame day!
If fworc'd to resign my auld lassie,
I cuddent lang linger my leane;
I'd creep to thy greave, broken-hearted,
Wi' thowts o' the days that are geane.