Select Poetry.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3523, 10 April 1880, Page 1

Select Poetry.

BAIRNIES CUDDLE DOON.

The bairnies cuddle doon at nicbt, Wi muckle faucht an* din: " O, try and sleep, ye waukrife rogues, Your faither's comin' in." They never heed a word I speak; I try to gie a froon, But aye I hap them up and cry, " O, bairnies, cuddle doon."

Wee Jamie with the curly heid— He aye sleeps next the wa', Bangs up an* cries, «I want a pieoe "— The rascal starts them a*. I rin an' fetch them pieces, drinks, They stop a wee the soun',' Then draw the blankets up an' cry, " Noo, weanies, cuddle doon."

But ere five minutes gang, wee Bab Cries out, frae 'neath the daes, " Mither, mak' Tarn gie ower at ance, He's kittlin' with his taes." The misohief's in that Tarn for tricks, He'd bother half the toon; But aye I hap them up and cry, "O, bairtiw, cuddle doon." • At length they hear Mi lather's fit, An' as he steekt tbedoor. They turn they faces to tb^wa*, While Tarn pretends to UK' " Hae a' the wmi been gudt P " he asks, As he puts off his shoon. " The bairnies, John, are in their.beds* An' lang since cuddled doon."

An' just afore we bed oonels, We look at our wee laubs; Tarn has his aim reun' wee Bab's neok r An' Bab his airm roun* Tarn's I lift t wee Jamie up the bed, . An' as I atraik each croon, I whisper till my heart fills up, " O, bairniei, cuddle doon."

The bairnies cuddle doon at nicbt Wi' mirth that's dear to me; But eune the big warl's cark an* care Will quaten dooa their glee. Yet, come what will to ilka ane, May He who sits aboen Aye whisper, though tbeir pows be battld " 0, bairnies, cuddle, doon." • AIIZ. AHDIBOOH.