Thou’s welcome, wean; mishanterfa’me,
If thoughts o’ thee, or yet thy mamie,
Shall ever dauntonme or aweme,
My bonie lady,
Or if I blush when thou shalt ca’ me
Tyta ordaddie.
Tho’ now they ca’me fornicator,
An’ tease my name in kintry clatter,
The mair they talk, I’m kent the better,
E’enlet them clash;
Anauldwife’s tongue’s a fecklessmatter
To gie anefash.
Welcome! my bonie, sweet, wee dochter,
Tho’ ye come here a wee unsought for,
And tho’ your comin’ I hae fought for,
Baithkirkand queir;
Yet, bymy faith, ye’re nounwrought for,
That I shall swear!
Weeimage o’ my bonieBetty,
As fatherly I kiss and dautthee,
As dear, and near my heart I setthee
Wi’ as gudewill
As a’ the priests had seen me getthee
That’s out o’ hell.
Sweet fruit o’ mony a merry dint,
My funny toil is now a’ tint,
Sin’thou came to the warl’asklent,
Which fools may scoff at;
In my last plackthy part’s be in’t
The better ha’f o’t.
Tho’ I should be the waurbestead,
Thou’s be as brawand bienlyclad,
And thy young years as nicely bred
Wi’ education,
As ony brat o’wedlock’s bed,
In a’thy station.
Lord grant that thou may aye inherit
Thy mither’s person, grace, an’ merit,
An’thy poor, worthless daddy’s spirit,
Without his failins,
‘Twill please me mairto see thee heir it,
Than stockit mailens.
For if thou be what I wadhaethee,
And takthe counsel I shall giethee,
I’ll never rue my trouble wi’thee,
The cost nor shame o’t,
Butbe a loving father to thee,
And brag the name o’t.