MY FIRST BAWBEE,
0 nane, I trew, on a' the yirth Was happier than me, When in my wee breek pouch I gat My fiist bawbee; 1 turned it roun' and roun' wi' pride, Syne toddled afl'wi' glee To wair, on something that was quid, My fiist bawbee. I met auld grannie at the door : Quo she, " Noo, Rab tak care, Nae reckless whigmaleeries buy When ye gang to the fair ; A gauncie row or sauncie scone Is best for ane that's wee — Mind, muckle lies in hoo ye spen' Your first bawbee." But grannie's words were sune forgot When to the fair I gaed, And saw sac mony fairlies there On ilka stan' arrayed; I glowr'd at this, I glowr'd at that, Wi' roving greedy e'e, And felt duvniounder't how to wair My first bawbee. Here apples lay in mony a creel, A' tempting to the view, And plums and pears whase very leuk Brocht water to my raou' ; •And there were tosh wee picture beuks, Spread out a' fair to see — They seemed to say, " Come here and spen' Your first bawbee." I kent the ane wad gust the gab, The ither tell me how Cock Robin fell that waefu' day The Sparrow drew his bow ; But baith, waesock ! I couldna get, And sac wi' tearfu' e'e I swithered lang on whilk to wair My first bawbee. At length a wheedlin' Eerish loon Began to brawl and brag ; "Come now," said he, "my little lad And try the Lucky Bag ; If you have but one copper got, For it you may get three — Sure never ventuie never won, Sport your bawbee." Thinks I this is the vera thing, I'll mak my bawbee twa, And syne I'll get the plums or pears, The wee bit beuk and a' ; Sac at the Bag I tried my luck, But hope wa« dung agee — A blank was mine, and sac I lost My first bawbee. A tear cam' happin' owre my cheek As sad I dannert hame, Wi' hunger rumbling up and doon Like wind within my wame. I tel't auld grannie a' my tale — " Ye've gane far wrang," quo' she, " But muckle quid may yet come out Your lost bawbee." And true she spak — my loss was gain — It laird me usefu' lair — It made me, aft sinsyne, tak tent O' mony a gilded snare ; And still when loons to catch the plaek Their fieechin' phrases gie, A something whispers, " Robin, mind Your first bawbee."
MY FIRST BAWBEE,
Otago Witness, Issue 341, 12 June 1858, Page 5
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in