AULD GRANNIE.

Southland Times, Issue 1729, 18 April 1873, Page 2 (Supplement)

AULD GRANNIE.

1 A Sketch. By John G. Smith, Author of " Random Notes on the Folk Lore of the Scottish Borders," te. Auld Grannie, she sat in her big elbow chair, Wi' her clean crimpit mutch owre her lang silvery hair, An' birled at her wheel, or took her bit nap, While pussie lay purrin' her sang in her lap. The weans when they saw thafc her een she wad steek, Sac saftly they'd creep an' in whispers wad speak, To wauken Auld Grannie wi' them was a sin, An' they held in the breath o' their frolicsome din. Auld Grann : e had warsled wi' poortifch au' wae, Till her een were grown dim an' her haffits were Iho' eoaa was her mailen she aye was content, An' thankfu' for a' a kind Providence sent j In a' her sair troubles she never repined, In sunshine or shade she was meek an' resigned, For her trust was in Ane she kenned was her shield, Her guide in her bairnhood—- her stay in her eild. Auld Grannie, puir body, wi' specks on her nose, Waa o p en her Bible an' read to her oes, Wha le fc off their daffin, their tricks, an' t!u"r glee, An' stude wi' thoir wee curly pows at her knee ; Losh me ! as tbey glowered' when o' Joseph she read, Or how a' the folk thro' the desert were led, O' Dmiel, Elijah, an' David the King, Wha the big giant slew wi' a stane an' a sling. Auld Grannie, when simmer smiled owre the green b-aes, An' fche wee lambies played i' tbe glad sunny days, Wad bring ? U fc her stool when fche evening cam oc, An' tbe sun hh last blink on our blithe cottar shone ; At the door she vad sit an' lauch afc our glee, When like fairis we danced round our auld rowan tree ; Tho' whiles a bi^tear frae her dim een wad fa' When she thoat on her young days lan* vanished awa. ° Auld Grannie, Jake! we will see her nae mair Our fireside is .iurie an' toom her arm chair, Her cc that aye rf.ntit sac ioesooie an' fain May ne'er shed .9 licht on our young hearts again ; Her voice we may ii 3 s in her sweet hymn o' praise, Or the sangs that iie crooned aboot lan» bv^ane days, ° Jo But £uld Grannie »ell think on till death close ' our cc, An' the wise wordahe leired as we stude at her ! knee.