And L if ance they pit her till❜t, And rin her whittle to the hilt I' th' first she meets! For G-sake, sirs! then speak her fair, Wi' instant speed, gently And strive, wi' a' your wit and lear, learning To get remead. Yon ill-tongued tinkler, Charlie Fox, And send him to his dicing-box remedy Tell yon guid bluid o' auld Boconnocks,1 fellow 1 Mr. Pitt's father, the Earl of Chatham, was the second son of Robert Pitt of Boconnock, in the county of Cornwall. 2" Scones made from a mixture of oats, peas, or beans, with wheat or barley, ground fine, and denominated mashlum, are in general use, and form a wholesome and palatable food." - New Statistical Account of Scotland, parish of Dalry, Ayrshire. And drink his health in auld Nanse Tinnock's1 If he some scheme, like tea and winnocks,2 Could he some commutation broach, Yon mixtie-maxtie queer hotch-potch, Auld Scotland has a raucle tongue; stout bludgeon Though by the neck she should be strung, And now, ye chosen Five-and-Forty, 1 A worthy old hostess of the author's in Mauchline, where he sometimes studies politics over a glass of guid auld Scotch drink. B. Nanse's story was different. On seeing the poem, she declared that the poet had never been but once or twice in her house. A portrait of Nanse was taken by Brooks in 1799, and has been engraved. 2 The young Chancellor of the Exchequer had gained some credit by a measure introduced in 1784 for preventing smuggling of tea by reducing the duty, the revenue being compensated by a tax on windows. Then, though a minister grow dorty, And kick your place, Ye'll snap your fingers poor and hearty, God bless your honours a' your days, That haunt St. Jamie's! Your humble Poet sings and prays, sulky suits jackdaws POSTSCRIPT. Let half-starved slaves in warmer skies She eyes her freeborn, martial boys What though their Phoebus kinder warms, While fragrance blooms and beauty charms! When wretches range, in famished swarms, The scented groves, Or hounded forth, dishonour arms In hungry droves. Their gun's a burden on their shouther; They downa bide the stink o' powther; cannot Their bauldest thought's a hank'ring swither To stan' or rin, uncertainty Till skelp a shot-they're aff, a'thr'owther, slap To save their skin. But bring a Scotchman frae his hill, He has nae thought, but how to kill Nae cauld, faint-hearted doubtings tease him; Death comes wi' fearless eye he sees him; Wi' bluidy han' a welcome gies him; And when he fa's, His latest draught o' breathin' lea'es him Sages their solemn een may steek, And raise a philosophic reek, And physically causes seek, In clime and season; But tell me whisky's name in Greek, Scotland, my auld, respected mither! shut mist Though whiles ye moistify your leather, sometimes Till whare ye sit, on craps o' heather crops Ye tine your dam; Freedom and whisky gang thegither! - lose THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS AULD MARE MAGGIE, ON GIVING HER THE ACCUSTOMED RIPP OF CORN, TO HANSEL IN THE NEW YEAR. To the early part of 1786 may be referred a poem which seems to have attracted less attention than most others of the same degree of effort, but which, we think, presents a most pleasing strain of that benevolent feeling which Burns entertained towards the humbler animals. He here assumes a fictitious character that of an old farmer. A GUID New-year I wish thee, Maggie! Though now thou's dowie, stiff, and crazy, drooping |