Stray leaves from the portfolios of Alisander the seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle

STRAY LEAVES.
19
But cock your lugs, puir things, and quat your sadness,
Nae mair yell hunger, thirst, nor gang astray;
Yea, mae aloud, and frisk, and loup for gladness!
Yell hae a herd, a trusty herd, this day;
A herd wha eldently will tent and feed ye.
And ca’ ye aye to caller shades at noon,—
By bonnie, wimpling, crystal burns hell lead ye.
And ward ye faithfully baith late and soon.
Your weak and sickly things hell kindly foster.
And gently lead your ewies grit wi’ lamb ;
Your lammies young hell carry in his oxter.
But tightly cf eesh ilk ramp unruly ram.
Nae mair through grassless barren muirs yell wander.
Nor scattered be on dark and cloudy days,—
Nae mair yell quake at Sinai’s awfu’ thunder.
But snugly feed on Zion’s bonnie braes.
There ye may frisk and loup at will securely,
Nae gully formed against ye e’er shall thrive.
Nor barbarous butcher, wi’ his curs sae surly,
Unto the slaughter your young lammies drive.
The clegs and wasps, indeed, may whiles annoy ye,
But wha can keep aff that mischievous brood ?
Na, troth, they’re ablins sent to prove and try ye,
And sic like ills can only work your good.