CUDDLE DOON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 142, 21 August 1880, Page 4

CUDDLE DOON.

“ The bairnies cuddle doon afc nicht, Wi’ muckle faucht an’ din ; ‘ O, try an’ sleep, ye waukrife rogues, Your father’s cornin’ in.’ They never heed a word I speak ; I try to gie a froon, But aye I hap them up an’ cry, ‘O, bairnies, cuddle doon.” Wee Jamie wi’ the curly heid — He aye sleeps next the wa,’ — Bangs up an’ cries, ‘ I want a piece ’ ! The rascal starts them a’. I rin an’ fetch them pieces, drinks, They stop awee the soun’, Then draw the blankets up an’ cry, “Noo, weanies, cuddle doon.” But ere five minutes gang, we Rab Cries oot, frae ’neath the claes, ‘ Mither, mak’ Tam gie ower at ance, He’s kittlin’ wi’ his taes.’ The mischief’s in that Tam for tricks, He’d bother half the toon, But aye I hap them up an’ cry. ‘ 0, bairnies cuddle doon. ’ At length they hear their faiter’s fit, An’, as he steeks the door, They turn their faces to the wa’ While Tam pretends to snore. * Hae a’ the weans been gude 1 ’ he asks, As he pits off his shoon. ‘ The bairnies, John, are in their beds, An’ lang since cuddled doon.’ An’ just before we bed oorsels, We look at oor wee lambs ; Tam has his arm roun’ wee Rab’s neck, An’ Rab hislarm roun 1 Tam’s. I lift wee Jamie up the bed, An’ as I straik each croon, I whisper, till my heart fills up, ‘.O, bairnies, cuddle doon.’ The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht Wi’ mirth that’s dear to me ; But sune the big world’s cark an’ care Will quieten doon their glee. Yet, come what will to ilka ane, May He who sits aboon Aye whisper, thoughtheirpowsbebauld, ‘ O, bairnies cuddle doon. ’ —Alexander Anderson, “ Surfaceman," th Bmns of the Century.