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THE FILIAL VOW

1802.

Why heaves my mother oft the deep drawn sigh ?
Why starts the big tear glistening in her eye ?
Why oft retire to hide her bursting grief?
Why seeks she not, nor seems to wish, relief?
Tis for my Father, mould'ring with the dead,
My Brother, in bold manhood lowly laid,
And for the pains which age is doom'd to bear,
She heaves the deep drawn sigh, and drops the silent tear.
Yes, partly these her gloomy thoughts employ ;
But mostly this o'erclouds her ev'ry joy,—
She grieves to think she may be burthensome,
Now feeble, old, and tottering to the tomb.

Oh, hear me, Heav'n, and record my Vow,
Its non-performance let thy wrath pursue !
I swear—Of what Thy providence may give,
My Mother shall her due maintenance have.
Twas hers to guide me thro Life's early day,
To point out Virtue's path, and lead the way ;
Now, while her pow'rs in frigid langour sleep,
Tis mine to hand her down Life's rugged steep,
With all her little weaknesses to bear,
Attentive, kind, to sooth her ev'ry care.—
Tis Nature bids, and truest pleasure flows
From lessening an aged parent's woes.*


* The Poet's eldest brother, Thomas, died in 1795, in the 29th year of his age, and his Father in December, 1801, or January 1802, in the 69th year of his age, when his Mother was in her 64th year. In these days Muslin flowering, Tam­bouring, Clipping, Fringing, and other light work, were given out by manu­facturers to be executed at home, and thrifty wives and widows wrought at these employments, but principally young females. We concur with Mr. Ram­say and the other Editor in the strong filial affection of the Bard for his Mother and her maintenance ; but, she having a hale constitution and a spirit of inde­pendence, could not allow herself to remain idle, and she obtained as much employment as she required from the warehouse of Mr. William Burns, 98 Causeyside, foot of Brown's Lane, where her son James was foreman. After the death of the Poet, she was well attended to by her two sons, James and Matthew. Mrs. Tannahill lived to the venerable age of 84 years, and died on 19th August, 1822.—Ed.