Classic Poem

Will and Jean - Part 3

Oh! that folk wad weel consider
What it is to tyne a — NAME ,
What this warld is a'thegither.
If bereft of honest fame!

Poortith ne'er can bring dishonour;
Hardships ne'er breed Sorrow's smart,
If bright Conscience taks upon her
To shed sunshine round the heart:

But wi' a' that wealth can borrow,
Guilty shame will aye look down;
What maun then shame, want, and sorrow,
Wandering sad frae town to town!

J EANIE Miller , ance sae cheerie,
Ance sae happy, good, and fair,
Left by W ILL , next morning, drearie,
Tacks the road o' black Despair.

Cauld the blast! — the day was sleeting;
Pouch and purse without a plack!
In ilk hand a bairnie greeting.
And the third tied on her back!

Wan her face, and lean and haggard,
Ance sae sonsy! ance sae sweet!
What a change! — unhoused and beggared,
Starving, without claise or meat!

Far frae ilk kent spot she wandered,
Skulking like a guilty thief;
Here and there, uncertain, daundered,
Stupified wi' shame and grief.

But soon shame for bygane errors
Fled owre fast for ee to trace,
When grim Death wi' a' his terrors,
Cam o'er ilk sweet bairnie's face!

Spent wi' toil, and cauld and hunger,
Baith down drapt! and down Jean sat!
" Daised and doited" now nae langer;
Thought — and felt — and bursting grat.

Gloaming fast, wi' mirky shadow,
Crap o'er distant hill and plain;
Darkened wood, and glen, and meadow,
Adding fearfu' thoughts to pain.

Round and round, in wild distraction,
Jeanie turned her tearfu' ee!
Round and round for some protection!
Face nor house she could nae see!

Dark, and darker grew the night aye;
Loud and sair the cauld winds thud!
Jean now spied a sma bit lightie
Blinking through a distant wood.

Up wi' frantic haste she started;
Cauld, nor fear, she felt nae mair;
Hope, for ae bright moment, darted
Through the gloom of dark Despair.

Fast o'er fallowed lea she brattled,
Deep she wade through bog and burn;
Sair wi' steep and craig she battled,
Till she reached the hoped sojourn.

Proud, 'mang scenes of simple nature,
Stately auld, a mansion stood
On a bank, whase sylvan feature
Smiled out-o'er the roaring flood.

Summer here, in varied beauty
Late her flowery mantle spread,
Where auld chesnut, aik, and yew-tree,
Mingling, lent their friendly shade:

Blasted now, wi' winter's ravage;
A' their gaudy livery cast;
Wood and glen, in wailings savage,
Howl and murmur to the blast.

Darkness stalked wi' Fancy's terror; —
Mountains moved, and castle rocked;
Jean, half dead wi' toil and horror,
Reached the door and loudly knocked.

" Wha thus loudly wakes the sleeping?"
Cried a voice wi' angry grane:
" Help! O help!" quo' Jeanie, weeping,
" Help my infants, or they're gane!

" Nipt wi" cauld! — wi' hunger fainting!
Baith lie speechless on the lea!
Help!' quo' Jeanie, loud lamenting,
" Help my lammies! or they'll die!"

" Wha this travels, cauld and hungry
Wi' young bairns sae late at e'en?
Beggars!" cried the voice, mair angry,
" Beggars wi' their brats, I ween."

" Beggars now , alas! wha lately
Helpt the beggar and the poor!"
" Fye! gudeman!" cried ane discreetly,
" Taunt na poortith at our door.

" Sic a night and tale thegither
Plead for mair than anger's din: —
Rise, Jock!" cried the pitying mither,
" Rise! and let the wretched in."

" Beggars now, alas! wha lately
Helpt the beggar and the poor!"
" Enter!" quo' the youth fu' sweetly,
While up flew the open door.

" Beggar, or what else, sad mourner!
Enter without fear or dread;
Here, thank God! there's aye a corner
To defend the houseless head.

" For your bairnies cease repining;
If in life, ye'll see them soon," —
Aff he flew; and brightly shining
Through the dark clouds brak the moon.English