The Cottar's Saturday Night, verses 7 and 8

Category

Library Item

Item no

24764

Title

The Cottar's Saturday Night, verses 7 and 8

Description

A man wearing a jacket and cap stands amongst a family group within their basic cottage kitchen. A young woman stands beside the door behind the man and a dog snifs around his legs. The seated man and woman and the children have all turned to look towards the visitor.

Artist / maker

Faed, John

Date

1853

Size

19.1 x 25.1 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

A cottar, or cotter, is an old scots word meaning a married farm labourer who lives in a cottage provided by his employer. This image illustrates verses 7 and 8 from Robert Burns' The Cotter's Saturday Night:
But hark! a rap comes gently to the door;
Jenny, wha kens the meaning o' the same,
Tells how a neebor lad cam o'er the moor,
To do some errands, and convoy her hame.
The wily mother sees the conscious flame
Sparkle in Jenny's e'e, and flush her cheek;
With heart-struck anxious care, enquires his name,
While Jenny hafflins is afraid to speak;
Weel pleas'd the mother hears, its nae wild, worthless rake.

Wi' kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben;
A strappan youth; he takes the mother's eye;
Blythe Jenny sees the visit's no ill ta'en;
The father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye.
The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi' joy.
But blate and laithfu', scarce can weel behave;
The mother, wi' a woman's wiles, can spy
What makes the youth sae bashfu' an' sae grave;
Weel pleased to think her bairn's respected like the lave.

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Related images

Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Dogs

Homes > Residential buildings > Cottages

Homes > Residential buildings > Crofts

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Children > Boys

People > Children > Girls

Places > United Kingdom > Scotland

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