Click in the field, then press CTRL+C to copy the HTML code
Copy
<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=539712" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Nithsdale Widow and Her Son</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Twas in the year of 1746, on a fine summer afternoon,<br>When trees and flowers were in full bloom,<br>That widow Riddel sat knitting stockings on a little rustic seat,<br>Which her only son had made for her, which was very neat. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The cottage she lived in was in the wilds of Nithsdale,<br>Where many a poor soul had cause to bewail<br>The loss of their shealings, that were burned to the ground,<br>By a party of fierce British dragoons that chanced to come round. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">While widow Riddel sat in her garden she heard an unusual sound,<br>And near by was her son putting some seeds into the ground,<br>And as she happened to look down into the little strath below<br>She espied a party of dragoons coming towards her very slow. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And hearing of the cruelties committed by them, she shook with fear.<br>And she cried to her son, "Jamie, thae sodgers are coming here!"<br>While the poor old widow's heart with fear was panting,<br>And she cried, "Mercy on us, Jamie, what can they be wanting?" </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Next minute the dragoons were in front of the cottage door,<br>When one of them dismounted, and loudly did roar,<br>"Is there any rebels, old woman, skulking hereabouts?"<br>"Oh, no, Sir, no! believe my word without any doubts." </div><div style="margin:10px 0">"Well, so much the better, my good woman, for you and them;<br>But, old girl, let's have something to eat, me, and my men":<br>"Blithely, sir, blithely! ye're welcome to what I hae,"<br>When she bustled into the cottage without delay. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And she brought out oaten cakes, sweet milk, and cheese,<br>Which the soldiers devoured greedily at their ease,<br>And of which they made a hearty meal,<br>But, for such kind treatment, ungrateful they did feel. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then one of the soldiers asked her how she got her living:<br>She replied, "God unto her was always giving;<br>And wi' the bit garden, alang wi' the bit coo,<br>And wi' what the laddie can earn we are sincerely thankfu'." </div><div style="margin:10px 0">To this pitiful detail of her circumstances the villain made no reply,<br>But drew a pistol from his holster, and cried, "Your cow must die!"<br>Then riding up to the poor cow, discharged it through her head,<br>When the innocent animal instantly fell down dead. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Not satisfied with this the merciless ruffian leaped the little garden wall,<br>And with his horse trod down everything, the poor widow's all,<br>Then having finished this barbarous act of direst cruelty,<br>The monster rejoined his comrades shouting right merrily: </div><div style="margin:10px 0">"There, you old devil, that's what you really deserve,<br>For you and your rascally rebels ought to starve";<br>Then the party rode off, laughing at the mischief that was done,<br>Leaving the poor widow to mourn and her only son. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">When the widow found herself deprived of her all,<br>She wrung her hands in despair, and on God did call,<br>Then rushed into the cottage and flung herself on her bed,<br>And, with sorrow, in a few days she was dead. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And, during her illness, her poor boy never left her bedside,<br>There he remained, night and day, his mother's wants to provide,<br>And make her forget the misfortunes that had befallen them,<br>All through that villainous and hard-hearted party of men. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">On the fourth day her son followed her remains to the grave.<br>And during the burial service he most manfully did behave,<br>And when the body was laid in the grave, from tears he could not refrain,<br>But instantly fled from that desolated place, and never returned again. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thirteen years after this the famous battle of Minden was fought<br>By Prince Ferdinand against the French, who brought them to nought;<br>And there was a large body of British horse, under Lord George Sackville,<br>And strange! the widow's son was at the battle all the while. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And on the evening after the battle there were assembled in a tavern<br>A party of British dragoons, loudly boasting and swearing,<br>When one of them swore he had done more than any of them--<br>A much more meritorious action-- which he defied them to condemn . </div><div style="margin:10px 0">"What was that, Tam, what was that, Tam?" shouted his companions at once.<br>"Tell us, Tam; tell us, Tam, was that while in France?"<br>"No!" he cried, "it was starving an old witch, while in Nithsdale,<br>By shooting her cow and riding down her greens, that is the tale." </div><div style="margin:10px 0">"And don't you repent it?" exclaimed a young soldier, present.<br>"Repent what?" cried the braggart; "No! I feel quite content."<br>"Then, villain!" cried the youth, unsheathing his sword,<br>"That woman was my mother, so not another word! </div><div style="margin:10px 0">"So draw, and defend yourself, without more delay,<br>For I swear you shall not live another day!"<br>Then the villain sprang to his feet, and a combat ensued,<br>But in three passes he was entirely subdued. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Young Riddell afterwards rose to be a captain<br>In the British service, and gained a very good name<br>For being a daring soldier, wherever he went,<br>And as for killing the ruffian dragoon he never did repent.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=William+Topaz+McGonagall">William Topaz McGonagall</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=539712" data-title="The Nithsdale Widow and Her Son de William Topaz McGonagall" data-description="'Twas in the year of 1746, on a fine summer afternoon, When trees and flowers were in full bloom, That widow Riddel sat knitting stockings on a little rustic seat, Which her only son had made for her, which was very neat. The cottage she lived i..."></div> </div> </div>
solid border
dashed border
dotted border
double border
groove border
ridge border
inset border
outset border
no border
blue
green
red
purple
cyan
gold
silver
black