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| THOU’S 1 welcome, wean; mishanter fa’ me, | |
| If thoughts o’ thee, or yet thy mamie, | |
| Shall ever daunton me or awe me, | |
| My bonie lady, | |
| Or if I blush when thou shalt ca’ me | 5 |
| Tyta or daddie. | |
| |
| Tho’ now they ca’ me fornicator, | |
| An’ tease my name in kintry clatter, | |
| The mair they talk, I’m kent the better, | |
| E’en let them clash; | 10 |
| An auld wife’s tongue’s a feckless matter | |
| To gie ane fash. | |
| |
| Welcome! my bonie, sweet, wee dochter, | |
| Tho’ ye come here a wee unsought for, | |
| And tho’ your comin’ I hae fought for, | 15 |
| Baith kirk and queir; | |
| Yet, by my faith, ye’re no unwrought for, | |
| That I shall swear! | |
| |
| Wee image o’ my bonie Betty, | |
| As fatherly I kiss and daut thee, | 20 |
| As dear, and near my heart I set thee | |
| Wi’ as gude will | |
| As a’ the priests had seen me get thee | |
| That’s out o’ h—ll. | |
| |
| Sweet fruit o’ mony a merry dint, | 25 |
| My funny toil is now a’ tint, | |
| Sin’ thou came to the warl’ asklent, | |
| Which fools may scoff at; | |
| In my last plack thy part’s be in’t | |
| The better ha’f o’t. | 30 |
| |
| Tho’ I should be the waur bestead, | |
| Thou’s be as braw and bienly clad, | |
| And thy young years as nicely bred | |
| Wi’ education, | |
| As ony brat o’ wedlock’s bed, | 35 |
| In a’ thy station. | |
| |
| Lord grant that thou may aye inherit | |
| Thy mither’s person, grace, an’ merit, | |
| An’ thy poor, worthless daddy’s spirit, | |
| Without his failins, | 40 |
| ’Twill please me mair to see thee heir it, | |
| Than stockit mailens. | |
| |
| For if thou be what I wad hae thee, | |
| And tak the counsel I shall gie thee, | |
| I’ll never rue my trouble wi’ thee, | 45 |
| The cost nor shame o’t, | |
| But be a loving father to thee, | |
| And brag the name o’t. | |
