thecotter'ssaturdaynight

inscribedtor.aiken，esq.，ofayr.

letnotambitionmocktheirusefultoil，

theirhomelyjoys，anddestinyobscure;

norgrandeurhear，withadisdainfulsmile，

theshortandsimpleannalsofthepoor.

gray.

mylov'd，myhonour'd，muchrespectedfriend!

nomercenarybardhishomagepays;

withhonestpride，iscorneachselfishend，

mydearestmeed，afriend'sesteemandpraise:

toyouising，insimplescottishlays，

thelowlytraininlife'ssequester'dscene，

thenativefeelingsstrong，theguilelessways，

whataikeninacottagewouldhavebeen;

ah!tho'hisworthunknown，farhappierthereiween!

novemberchillblawsloudwi'angrysugh;

theshort'ningwinter-dayisnearaclose;

themirybeastsretreatingfraethepleugh;

theblack'ningtrainso'crawstotheirrepose:

thetoil-worncotterfraehislabourgoes，—

thisnighthisweeklymoilisatanend，

collectshisspades，hismattocks，andhishoes，

hopingthemornineaseandresttospend，

andweary，o'erthemoor，hiscoursedoeshamewardbend.

atlengthhislonelycotappearsinview，

beneaththeshelterofanagedtree;

th'expectantwee-things，toddlin，stacherthrough

tomeettheirdead，wi'flichterinnoiseandglee.

hisweebitingle，blinkinbonilie，

hiscleanhearth-stane，histhriftywifie'ssmile，

thelispinginfant，prattlingonhisknee，

doesa'hiswearykiaughandcarebeguile，

andmakeshimquiteforgethislabourandhistoil.

belyve，theelderbairnscomedrappingin，

atserviceout，amangthefarmersroun';

someca'thepleugh，someherd，sometentierin

acannieerrandtoaneibortown:

theireldesthope，theirjenny，woman-grown，

inyouthfu'bloom-lovesparklinginhere'e—