Classic Poem

" O! mither, what tak's my dear faither awa',
When muir and when mountain are heapit wi' snaw,
When thick swirling drift dauds the dead sapless yirth,
And a' thing is drear, but our ain cozie hearth? "

" The young hill-side lammies wad dee wi' the cauld,
Wer't no for your faither, who leads them a-fauld
His voice is weel kenn'd by ilk puir mother ewe —
He's saving their lives while he's toilin' for you. "

" Gin e'er I'm man-muckle, and puir faither spared,
I'll mak ye a leddy, and faither a laird;
I'll brave the dour winter on mountain and lea,
And toil for ye baith, wha hae toil'd sae for me. "

" Come, lay your wee head on your ain minnie's knee,
And gaze in her face, wi' your ain faither's ee!
The night settles down — O! I wish he were here —
Hush! is na that Collie's wouff? — maybe they're near! "

The door gets a dirl, and flees back to the wa', —
'Tis he! frae his bonnet he dauds aff the snaw:
" I'm here! my sweet son, and my bonnie wee dame!
Down, Collie! — Be thankfu' we're a' noo at hame. "