Wull I hae tae speak again

Tae thae weans o' mine,

Echt o' clock an' weel I ken

The Schule gangs in at nine.

Little hauds me but tae gang

An' fetch the muckle whup,

Oh, ye sleepy-heidit rogues

    Wull ye wauken up?

 

Never mither had sic a faught,

No' a meenit's ease;

Clean Tam as ye like at nicht

His breeks are through his knees.

Thread is nae for him at a'

It niver hauds the grup;

Maun I speak again, ye rogues

    Wull ye wauken up?

 

Tam, the very last to bed,

He winna rise ava',

Last tae get his books an' sklate

Last tae win awa'.

Sic a loon for tricks an' fun

Heeds na' what I say

Rab an' Jamie - but they plaques,

    Wull they sleep a' day?

 

Here they come, the three at aince,

Lookin' gleg an' fell,

Hoo they ken their bits o' claes

Beats me fair tae tell.

Wash your wee bit faces clean

An' here's your bite an' sup,

Never wis mair wise-like bairns

    Noo they're wauken up.

 

There the three are aff at last

I watch them frae the door,

That Tam he's at his tricks again

I count them by the score,

He put his foot afore wee Rab

An' coupit Jamie doon

Could I but lay my haun's on him,

    I'd mak' him claw his croon.

 

Noo tae get my work on haun'

I'll hae a busy day

But losh! The hoose is unco quate

Since they are a' away.

A dizen times I'll look the clock

Whan it comes roon till three

For cuddlin' doon or waukenin' up,

    They're dear, dear bairns tae me.