Prev | Current Page 217 | Next

MacDonald, George, 1824-1905

"Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood"


But noo, whan I see ye gang, Jeanie,
Busy wi' what's to be dune,
Liltin' a haveless[2] sang, Jeanie,
I could kiss yer verra shune.
[Footnote 2: Careless.]
Wi' yer silken net on yer hair, Jeanie,
In yer bonny blue petticoat,
Wi' yer kindly airms a' bare, Jeanie,
On yer verra shadow I doat.
For oh! but ye're eident[3] and free, Jeanie,
Airy o' hert and o' fit[4];
There's a licht shines oot o' yer ee, Jeanie;
O' yersel' ye thinkna a bit.
[Footnote 3: Diligent.]
[Footnote 4: Foot.]
Turnin' or steppin' alang, Jeanie,
Liftin' an' layin' doon,
Settin' richt what's aye gaein' wrang, Jeanie,
Yer motion's baith dance an' tune.
Fillin' the cogue frae the coo, Jeanie,
Skimmin' the yallow cream,
Poorin' awa' the het broo, Jeanie,
Lichtin' the lampie's leme[5]--
[Footnote 5: Flame.]
I' the hoose ye're a licht an' a law, Jeanie,
A servant like him that's abune:
Oh! a woman's bonniest o' a', Jeanie,
Whan she's doin' what _maun_ be dune.
Sae, dressed in yer Sunday claes, Jeanie,
Fair kythe[1] ye amang the fair;
But dressed in yer ilka-day's[2], Jeanie,
Yer beauty's beyond compare.
[Footnote 1: Appear.]
[Footnote 2: Everyday clothes.]

CHAPTER XXXI
A Winter's Ride

In this winter, the stormiest I can recollect, occurred the chief
adventure of my boyhood--indeed, the event most worthy to be called an
adventure I have ever encountered.


Pages:
205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229