Scotland/Scots > Licht frae the smiddy o' Saunders Dinwuddie

74 THE UPBRINGING OF COMMON SENSE.
it wi’ a pair o’ sheers, an no wi’ onything like
a rational tongue ? How could we bide their
snippin’, an’ smoolin’ o’ their ‘ dear papa an’ their
dear mamma,’ as poor, rude, ignorant bodies wha
were far ahint their dochters an’ a’ the rest o’
the warld, an’ kent naething ava about novels an’
romances an’ louse books read an’ relished an’
spoken o’ in a’ genteel society ? Nae bairns o’
ours shall papa an’ mamma us, an’ set themsel’s
aboon the Fifth Commandment sae lang as we’re
in the body. Saunders an’ Girzie settled that lang
syne.”
“But how will they get settled in the world,
Saunders, like other men’s daughters, seeing they
are so far behind this age in fashionable accom¬
plishments
“A kittle question, Sir. But as ye can be
lippened wi’ a secret—our Lizzie, my auldest
dochter, is to be married in twa or three months
to the young Laird o’ Lownholme. He is the son
o’ an auld Scotch bannet laird, wha left a gey
clag o’ siller, and the mailin’ forbye to the young
man, wha is the man, every inch o’ him, weel
worthy o’ Lizzie; and she’s as weel worthy o’
him. They will be a goodly couple. She’ll mak’
a grand wife to him, and keep his house and
himsel’ a’ richt, and weel redd up, I warrant her.
Ye’ll hear mair about it or lang. Gude nicht, Sir.”
“Good night, my honest friend, and blessings
on the betrothed.