Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Scottish songs > Volume 2

484
We began in the world wi' naething, O,
And we've jogged on and toiled for the ae thing, O ;
We made use of what we had,
And our thankfu' hearts were glad,
When we got the bit meat and the claithing, O.
We have lived all our lifetime contented, O,
Since the day we became first acquainted, O ;
It's true we've been but poor,
And we are so to this hour.
Yet we never pined nor lamented, O.
We ne'er thought o' schemes to be wealthy, O,
By ways that were cunning or stealthie, O ;
But we always had the bliss —
And what farther could we wiss ? —
To be pleased wi' ourselves and be healthy, O.
What though we caima boast of our guineas, O,
We have plenty of Jockies and Jeanies, O ;
And these, I'm certain, are
More desirable by far,
Than a pock full of poor yellow steenies, O.
We have seen many a wonder and ferlie, O,
Of changes that almost are yearly, O,
Among rich folks up and down,
Both in country and in town,
Who now live but scrimply and barely, O,
colours, of the poet, his wife, and children, — taken seventy years ago by a
wandering artist, and now almost smoked out of countenance. In that hum-
ble place, during the period when it was unlawful for an Episcopalian clergy-
man to perform divine service to above four persons, Skinner had often
read prayers and preached, with his own family around him, and his little
congregation arranL-ed on the outside of an open window — an expedient
to elude the terms of the penal act.
It is told of this venerable man, that when he died, in 1808, he had the
satisfaction of seeing not only his " oyes around him," but the children of
these oyes. Some time before his death, he paid a visit with some of his
family, when it was found that there were four John Skinners in company,
all in direct descent ; namely, the poet himself —his son, the late Bishop of
Aberdeen— the present bishop— and an infant sou of the latter right reve-
rend gentleman.