The Genius of Scotland Part 9

Bauldy, however, confesses his wrong, and adds--

"But I had best Haud in my tongue, for yonder comes the _ghaist_[48]

An' the young bonny _witch_, whose rosy cheek Sent me, without my wit, the de'il to seek."

_Sir William_ (_looking at Peggy_).

--Whose daughter's she that wears the aurora gown, With face so fair, and locks o' lovely brown?

How sparkling are her eyes? What's this I find, The girl brings all my sister to my mind.

Such were the features once adorned a face, Which death so soon deprived of sweetest grace.

Is this your daughter Glaud?

_Glaud._--Sir, she's my niece, An' yet she's not, but I shoud haud my peace.

_Sir Wil._--This is a contradiction. What d' ye mean?

She is, and is not! pray thee, Glaud, explain.

_Glaud._--Because I doubt, if I shou'd mak' appear, What I hae kept a secret thirteen year--

_Mause._--You may reveal what I can fully clear.

_Sir Wil._--Speak soon; I'm all impatience.

_Patie._--Sae am I!

For much I hope, an' hardly yet ken why.

_Glaud._--Then, since my master orders, I obey.

This _bonny foundling_, ae' clear morn o' May, Close by the lea-side o' my door I found, A' sweet an' clean an' carefully hapt[49] 'round, In infant weeds, o' rich and gentle make.

What could they be, thought I, did thee forsake?

Wha, worse than brutes, cou'd leave exposed to air Sae much o' innocence sae sweetly fair, Sae helpless young? for she appeared to me Only about twa towmands[50] auld to be.

I took her in my arms; the bairnie smiled, Wi' sic a look, wad mak a savage mild.

I hid the story: she has pa.s.s'd sinsyne[51]

As a poor orphan, an' a niece o' mine: Nor do I rue my care about the wean, For she's weel worth the pains that I hae tane.

Ye see she's bonny; I can swear she's guid, An' am right sure she's come o' gentle bluid, O' wham I kenna.[52] Naething I ken mair, Than what I to your honor now declare.

_Sir Wil._--This tale seems strange!

_Patie._--The tale delights my ear!

_Sir Wil._--Command your joys, young man, till truth appear.

_Mause._--That be my task. Now sir, bid a' be hush; Peggy may smile; thou hast nae cause to blush.

Lang hae I wish'd to see this happy day, That I may safely to the truth gi'e way; That I may now Sir William Worthy name, The best and nearest friend that she can claim: He saw 't at first, an' wi' quick eye did trace His sister's beauty in her daughter's face.

_Sir Wil._--Old woman, do not rave,--prove what you say, It's dangerous in affairs like this to play.

_Patie._--What reason, Sir, can an auld woman have To tell a lie when she's sae near her grave?

But how or why, it should be truth I grant I every thing that looks like reason want.

_Omnes._--The story's odd! we wish we heard it out.

_Sir Wil._--Make haste, good woman, and resolve each doubt.

[_Mause goes forward, leading Peggy to Sir William._]

_Mause._--Sir, view me weel; has fifteen years sae plow'd A wrinkled face that you hae often viewed, That here I as an unknown stranger stand.

Wha nursed her mother that now hauds my hand?

Yet stronger proofs I'll gie, if you demand.

_Sir Wil._--Ha! honest nurse, where were my eyes before?

I know thy faithfulness, and need no more; Yet from the lab'rinth to lead out my mind, Say, to expose her, who was so unkind?

[_Sir William embraces Peggy and makes her sit by him._]

Yes surely thou'rt my niece; truth must prevail, But no more words till Mause relates the tale."

[Footnote 48: Ghost.]

[Footnote 49: Covered.]

[Footnote 50: Two years.]

[Footnote 51: Since then.]

[Footnote 52: Know not.]

Mause then relates how Peggy's life being threatened by a wicked aunt, who wished to take possession of her estate, she herself had stolen her away, in the dead of night, and travelled with her some fifty miles, and left her at Glaud's door; that she had taken a cottage in the vicinity, and had watched over the child ever since. All of course are delighted with this discovery. The betrothment of Patie and Peggy is sanctioned by Sir William; and even Bauldy

"the bewitch'd, has quite forgot Fell Madge's taz, and pawky Madge's plot,"

and exclaims:

"I'm friends wi' Mause,--wi' very Madge I'm greed, Although they skelpit[53] me when woodly flied:[54]

I'm now fu' blithe, an' frankly can forgive To join and sing, 'Lang may Sir William live.'"

[Footnote 53: Whipt.]

[Footnote 54: Sorely frightened.]

Sir William bestows upon "faithful Symon," and "kind Glaud," and upon their heirs, "in endless fee," their "mailens," or farms, and takes old Mause into his family, in peace

"to close her days, With naught to do but sing her Maker's praise."

Glaud consents to give Jenny to Roger, who says;

"I ne'er was guid o' speaking a' my days, Or ever loo'd to make o'er great a fraise;[55]

But for my master, father, an' my wife, I will employ the cares o' a' my life."

[Footnote 55: Fuss or perhaps flattering speech.]