Bannockburn, with sword in hand, And bid his warriors firmly stand Upon the spot; And bid the foemen leave the land, Or face the Scot. p. 97He who freed the human mind Of superstitious weak and blind; He who peered the scenes behind Their holy fairs— How orthodox its pockets lined With canting prayers. p. 97 Yes; he whose life’s short span appears Mixed up with joyous smiles and tears; So interwove with doubts and fears His harp did ring; And made the world to ope’ its ears And hear him sing. ’Twas his to walk the lonely glen, Betimes to shun the haunts of men, Searching for his magic pen— Poetic fire; And far beyond the human ken He strung the lyre. And well old Scotland may be proud To hear her Burns proclaimed aloud, For to her sons the world hath bowed Through Burns’s name— All races of the world are proud Of Burns’s fame. p. 98Trip to Malsis Hall. p. 98 The day wor fine, the sun did shine, No signs o’ rain to fall, When t’North Beck hands, i’ jovial bands, Did visit Malsis Hall. Up by the hill o’ North Beck Mill, Both owd an’ young did meet; To march I trow, i’ two-by-two, Procession dahn the street. An’ Marriner’s Band, wi’ music grand, Struck up wi’ all ther might; Then one an’ all, both great an’ small, March’d on wi’ great delight. The girls an’ boys, wi’ jovial noise, The fife an’ drum did play; For ivvery one wod hev some fun On this eventful day. Owd Joan o’ Sall’s wi’ all his pals, March’d on wi’ all ther ease: Just for a lark, some did remark, “There goes some prime owd cheese!” T’Exl’ Heead chaps wi’ their girt caps, An’ coits nut quite i’ t’fashion; Wi’ arms ding-dong, they strut along, An’ put a famous dash on. Tom Wilkins dress’d up in his best, T’owd wife put on her fall, Fer they wor bent, what com or went, To dine at Malsis Hall. p. 99Ther wor Tommy Twist among the list, Wi’ his magenta snaht; He’s often said sin he gat wed, T’owd lass sud hev an aght. p. 99 Among the lot wor owd Sam Butt, As fine as owd Lord Digby; An’ owd Queer Doos, wi’ his streit shoes, An’
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