Allan Ramsay. [A biography.] - National Library of Scotland

ALLAN RAMSAY 131
The girls then enter on a discussion regarding Jenny's
cruel indifference to Roger. The maiden, who by the
way is a bit of a prude, affects to despise love and
marriage, but in the end, overcome by Peggy's beautiful
description of conjugal happiness, is obliged to confess
her love for Roger. What more delightful picture of
maternal yearning over the young have we in all English
hterature, than Peggy's splendid defence ofmotherhood?
'Yes, it's a heartsome thing to be a wife,
When round the ingle-edge young sprouts are rife.
Gif I'm sae happy, I shall have delight
To hear their little plaints, and keep them right.
Wow, Jenny ! can there greater pleasure be,
Than see sic wee tots toolying at your knee
When a' they ettle at,—their greatest wish.
Is to be made of and obtain a kiss?
Can there be toil in tenting day and night
The like of them, when love makes care delight?'
The first scene of the Second Act opens with a
picture of a peasant farmer's ' onstead ' ; to wit, his
dwelHng and outhouses
—
* A snug thack-house ; before the door a green ;
Hens on the midden, ducks in dubs are seen
On this side stands a barn, on that a byre :
A peat stack joins, and forms a rural square.'
Here the neighbours, Glaud and Symon, meet. The
latter has been into Edinburgh to sell his 'crummock
and her bassened quey,' and over their pipes he informs
his friend that their landlord. Sir William Worthy, who,
as a Royalist, had been compelled to go into exile during
the Commonwealth, would now, owing to the Restoration,
be able to return home again, when all would be well.
Symon has heard the news from the laird's servant.
;
;
—