| Here
is his best-known poem. |
The
bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
Wi’ muckle faucht an’
din;
“Oh 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
an’ cry,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon.” |
| 2. |
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.” |
| 3. |
But,
ere five minutes gang, wee Rab
Cries out, 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 and
cry,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon.” |
|
| 4. |
At length they
hear their faither’s fit,
They turn their faces to the wa’,
An’, as he steeks the
door,
While Tam pretends to snore.
“Hae a’ the weans been
gude?” he asks,
As he pits aff his shoon;
“The bairnies, John, are
in their beds,
An’ lang since cuddled
doon.” |
| 5. |
An’
just afore we bed oorsels,
We look at our wee lambs;
Tam has his airm roun’
wee Rab’s neck,
And Rab his airm round Tam’s.
I lift wee Jamie up the
bed,
An’ as I straik each
croon,
I whisper, till my heart
fills up,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon.” |
| 6. |
The
bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
Wi’ mirth that ’s dear
to me;
But soon the big warl’s
cark an’ care
Will quaten doon their glee.
Yet, come what will to
ilka ane,
May He who rules aboon
Aye whisper, though their
pows be bald,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle
doon.” |
|
