FRIEND of the Poet, tried and leal,
Wha, wanting thee, might beg or steal;
Alake, alake, the meikle deil
Wi a his witches
Are at it skelpin jig and reel,
In my poor pouches?
I modestly fu fain wad hint it,
That One-pound-one, I sairly want it;
If wi the hizzie down ye sent it,
It would be kind;
And while my heart wi life-blood dunted,
Id beart in mind.
So may the Auld year gang out moanin
To see the New come laden, groanin,
Wi double plenty oer the loanin,
To thee and thine:
Domestic peace and comforts crownin
The hale design.
POSTSCRIPTYeve heard this while how Ive been lickit,
And by fell Death was nearly nickit;
Grim loon! he got me by the fecket,
And sair me sheuk;
But by gude luck I lap a wicket,
And turnd a neuk.
But by that health, Ive got a share ot,
But by that life, Im promisd mair ot,
My hale and wee, Ill tak a care ot,
A tentier way;
Then farewell folly, hide and hair ot,
For ance and aye!
