Nor thieves can braik in, nor troubles annoy.
Blessins on thi! wee thing,--an whativver thi lot,
Tha'rt promised a mansion, tho born in a cot,
What fate is befoor thi noa mortal can see,
But Christ coom to call just sich childer as thee.
An this thowt oft cheers me, tho' fortun may fraan,
Tha may yet be a jewel to shine in His craan.




Grimes' Galloway.


"It's noa use, Sammywell,--aw dooant knaw ha tha feels, but aw can
assure thee 'at aw dooant feel so young as aw used to do. When aw wor
twenty years younger tha allus set off bi thisen an left me to mooild
amang it th' best way aw could; but nah, when tha knows 'at aw can
hardly put one fooit afoor tother tha wants me to goa for a walk. Its
weel enuff for thee to climb ovver hills an daan dales, becoss thi limbs
are limber--thanks to me for takkin care on thi as aw have done. It's
miserable for me to caar ith' haase all bi misen, an thee wanderin abaat
as tha does, an hardly ivver turns up except at meal times, an net allus
then. If tha'd ha takken moor nooatice ov what aw've sed to thi i' years
gooan by, we could ha been ridin in a carriage ov us own nah. It is'nt
at aw've onny desire to show off, but aw think when fowk get to my age,
an have tew'd as aw've done, they're entitled to some ease an comfort.
But aw suppooas aw'st nivver know what rest is until awm under th' sod."

"Aw think tha must ha been aitin summat 'at's disagreed wi thi, owd