epistletowilliamsimson

schoolmaster，ochiltree.—may，1785

igatyourletter，winsomewillie;

wi'gratefu'heartithankyoubrawlie;

tho'imaunsay't，iwadbesilly，

anduncovain，

shouldibelieve，mycoaxinbillie

yourflatterinstrain.

buti'sebelieveyekindlymeantit:

isudbelaithtothinkyehinted

ironicsatire，sidelinssklented

onmypoormusie;

tho'insicphraisintermsye'vepenn'dit，

iscarceexcuseye.

mysenseswadbeinacreel，

shouldibutdareahopetospeel

wi'allan，orwi'gilbertfield，

thebraeso'fame;

orfergusson，thewriter-chiel，

adeathlessname.

（ofergusson!thygloriousparts

illsuitedlaw'sdry，mustyarts!

mycurseuponyourwhunstanehearts，

yee'nbrughgentry!

thetitheo'whatyewasteatcartes

wadstow'dhispantry!）

yetwhenatalecomesi'myhead，

orlassiesgiemyheartascreed—

aswhilesthey'reliketobemydead，

（osaddisease!）

ikittleupmyrusticreed;

itgiesmeease.

auldcoilanowmayfidgefu'fain，

she'sgottenpoetso'herain;

chielswhatheirchanterswinnahain，

buttunetheirlays，

tillechoesa'resoundagain