Robert Burns - How To Know Him by William Allan Neilson
page 37 of 334 (11%)
page 37 of 334 (11%)
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Wi' education,
As ony brat o' wedlock's bed In a' thy station. Wee image of my bonnie Betty, As fatherly I kiss and daut thee, [pet] As dear an' near my heart I set thee Wi' as guid will, As a' the priests had seen me get thee That's out o' hell. Gude grant that thou may aye inherit [God] Thy mither's looks and gracefu' merit, An' thy poor worthless daddy's spirit, Without his failins; 'Twill please me mair to see thee heir it, Than stockit mailins. [farms] An' if thou be what I wad hae thee, [would have] An' tak the counsel I shall gie thee, I'll never rue my trouble wi' thee-- The cost nor shame o't-- But be a loving father to thee, And brag the name o't. At Mossgiel the Burns family was no more successful than in either of its previous farms. Bad seed and bad weather gave two poor harvests, and by the summer of 1786 the poet's financial condition was again approaching desperation. His situation was made still more embarrassing by the consequences of another of his amours. Shortly |
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