Welcome To A Bastart Wean
1.
Thou's welcome, wean! Mishanter fa' me,
If thoughts o' thee or yet thy mammie
Shall ever daunton me or awe me,
My sweet, wee lady,
Or if I blush when thou shalt ca' me
Tyta or daddie!
2.
What tho' they ca' me fornicator,
An' tease my name in kintra clatter?
The mair they talk, I'm kend the better;
E'en let them clash!
An auld wife's tongue's a feckless matter
To gie ane fash.
3.
Welcome, my bonie, sweet, wee dochter!
Tho' ye come here a wee unsought for,
And tho' your comin I hae fought for
Baith kirk and queir;
Yet, by my faith, ye're no unwrought for --
That I shall swear!
4.
Sweet fruit o' monie a merry dint,
My funny toil is no a' tint:
Tho' thou cam to the warl' asklent,
Which fools may scoff at,
In my last plack thy part's be in't
The better half o't.
5.
Tho' I should be the waur bestead,
Thou's be as braw and bienly clad,
And thy young years as nicely bred
Wi' education,
As onie brat o' wedlock's bed
In a' thy station.
6.
Wee image o' my bonie Betty,
As fatherly I kiss and daut thee,
As dear and near my heart I set thee,
Wi' as guid will,
As a' the priests had seen me get thee
That's out o' Hell.
7.
Gude grant that thou may ay inherit
Thy mither's looks an' gracefu' merit,
An' thy poor, worthless daddie's spirit
Without his failins!
'Twill please me mair to see thee heir it
Than stocket mailins.
8.
And if thou be what I wad hae thee,
An' tak the counsel I shall gie thee,
I'll never rue my trouble wi' thee --
The cost nor shame o't --
But be a loving father to thee,
And brag the name o't,

Welcome To A Bastard Little One

You are welcome, little one! Mishap befall me,
If thoughts of you or yet your mother
Shall ever daunt me or awe me,
My sweet, little lady,
Or if I blush when you shall call me
Tyta or daddy!

What though they call me fornicator,
And tease my name in country gossip?
The more they talk, I am known the better,
Even let them tattle!
An old wife's tongue is a feeble matter
To give one annoyance.

Welcome, my lovely, sweet, little daughter!
Though you come here a little unsought for,
And though your coming I have fought for
Both church and choir;
Yet, by my faith, you are not unwrought for -
That I shall swear!

Sweet fruit of many a merry dint,
My funny toil is not all lost:
Though you came to the world askew,
Which fools may scoff at,
In my last coin your part will be in it
The better half of it.

Though I should be the worse provided,
You will be as lovely and finely clad,
And your young years as comfortably bred
With education,
As any brat of wedlock's bed
In all your station.

Little image of my lovely Betty,
As fatherly I kiss and pet you,
As dear and near my heart I set you,
With as good will,
As all the priests had seen me get you
That is out of Hell.

God grant that you may always inherit
Your mother's looks and graceful merit,
And your poor, worthless daddy's spirit
Without his failings!
It will please me more to see you heir it
Than stocked farms.

And if you be what I would have you,
And take the counsel I shall give you,
I will never rue my trouble with you -
The cost nor shame of it -
But be a loving father to you,
And brag the name of it.