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

STRAY LEAVES.
123
Her bloated bouk and brandy een—
Her staggering step and stammering stutter*
Have made the Carlin still mair keen
To (mind the butter* mind the butter.’
Then quick and cook her up a feast
Of vile unhowkit heathens’ livers
The heart’s blood of a Popish Priest:
A Deist’s cranium cracked to shivers;
Frae puffed-up Prelate’s pampered painch*
A whang o’ morbid matter cut her
A sturdy Independent’s hainch *
But* oh* be sure to ‘mind the butter.’
For Granny Kirk’s not half content
Wi’ a’ the guid things she has gotten*
But* still on fresh Endowments bent*
Has grown a downright greedy glutton.
Her Corbies through the land she sends*
Their ever-craving screams to utter ;
And* as each greedy throat extends*
Their craik is still—‘ Oh* mind the butter.’
But* oh* the days when she was young!
And free from blemish* blotch* and swelling;
Her muirland plaid around her flung—
The breezy hill-side was her dwelling;
Plain hame-spun plaiden was her wear*
Nae silks about her then did flutter;
Her drink* the mountain streamlet clear*
And aft she lack’d baith bread and butter.