epistletoj.lapraik，anoldscottishbard

april1，1785

whilebriersan'woodbinesbuddinggreen，

an'paitricksscraichinloudate'en，

an'morningpoussiewhiddinseen，

inspiremymuse，

thisfreedom，inanunknownfrien'，

iprayexcuse.

onfasten—e'enwehadarockin，

toca'thecrackandweaveourstockin;

andtherewasmucklefunandjokin，

yeneednadoubt;

atlengthwehadaheartyyokin

atsangabout.

therewasaesang，amangtherest，

aboonthema'itpleas'dmebest，

thatsomekindhusbandhadaddrest

tosomesweetwife;

itthirl'dtheheart-stringsthro'thebreast，

a'tothelife.

i'vescarceheardoughtdescrib'dsaeweel，

whatgen'rous，manlybosomsfeel;

thoughti“canthisbepope，orsteele，

orbeattie'swark?”

theytauldme'twasanoddkindchiel

aboutmuirkirk.

itpatmefidgin-faintohear't，

an'saeabouthimthereispeir't;

thena'thatkenthimrounddeclar'd

hehadingine;

thatnaneexcell'dit，fewcamnear't，

itwassaefine:

that，sethimtoapintofale，

an'eitherdouceormerrytale，