Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] A New Edition with Illustrations by A. S. Boyd |
Hughie's Advice to auld Tammy to tak'
the Use o' his Savings. |
I. |
II. |
Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | ||
79
Hughie's Advice to auld Tammy to tak' the Use o' his Savings.
“Linquenda tellus et domus.”
—Car. ii. 14.
—Car. ii. 14.
Ye're agein', Tammy, agein' fast,
The season o' your strength is past;
Ye're white but whaur ye're bauld;
The footmarks o' the craw are seen
Aboot the corners o' your een—
Ye're auld, my frien', ye're auld!
There's some that on life's mornin' road
Fall in their glorious strength,
An' some, like you, that bear the load
O' life the weary length;
But hame still, the same still,
We've a' to find oor way;
What maitter tho' later
Or earlier in the day?
The season o' your strength is past;
Ye're white but whaur ye're bauld;
The footmarks o' the craw are seen
Aboot the corners o' your een—
Ye're auld, my frien', ye're auld!
There's some that on life's mornin' road
Fall in their glorious strength,
An' some, like you, that bear the load
O' life the weary length;
But hame still, the same still,
We've a' to find oor way;
What maitter tho' later
Or earlier in the day?
80
Tammy, ye've lived to be a laird,
Ye awn a stane house, an' a yaird
Wi' fruit-trees on your wa';
Ye keep a powny, an' ye've kye,
Ye've siller i' the bank forbye—
Ye'll need to leave it a'!
What need ye, then, to strive an' strain,
An' fret your saul wi' care,
To gaither gear an' treasure gain
A' for a spendthrift heir?
He's waitin', like Satan,
But if he ance win in,
He'll dance throu't, an' prance throu't,
An' scatter't a' like sin!
Ye awn a stane house, an' a yaird
Wi' fruit-trees on your wa';
Ye keep a powny, an' ye've kye,
Ye've siller i' the bank forbye—
Ye'll need to leave it a'!
What need ye, then, to strive an' strain,
An' fret your saul wi' care,
To gaither gear an' treasure gain
A' for a spendthrift heir?
He's waitin', like Satan,
But if he ance win in,
He'll dance throu't, an' prance throu't,
An' scatter't a' like sin!
Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | ||