(A Comparison) The sichts we’ve seen! The punds my wife Has spent instead o’ bankit! But eh! we’re back in bonny Fife, Sae let the Lord be thankit! An’ Lunnon? Weel, ye ken, it’s gay An’ busy, nicht an’ morn, man, An’ there’s a pickle fouk—but eh! It’s no—it’s no Kinghorn, man. Ye’ll wanner on, an’ on, an’ on, Through miles an’ miles o’ men, man, An’ yet in a’ the crood like yon There’s de’il a face ye’ll ken, man. Na! Lunnon’s oot the warl’, ye see, For look ye, I’ll be sworn, man, Sic unco things could never be In ceevilised Kinghorn, man. The shops? Ou, aye, there’s shops indeed, But faith, they’re rale unhaundy: Ane keeps yer butter, ane yer breid, An’ yet a third yer braundy. Noo here, gin ye be wantin’ oucht, Boots, butcher’s meat or corn, man, Shag, bonnets, breeks, they’ll a’ be boucht Thegither in Kinghorn, man. The fashions? Weel, ye ken, we saw A wheen o’ giddy hussies Paradin’ in their duddies braw Upon the cars an’ ’busses. But dinna think owre much o’ yon, For sure as I am born, man, For style, it’s no a patch upon Our floo’er show at Kinghorn, man. An’ then sic ignorance! Losh me, I’m feared ye’ll no can doot it, But nane kent whaur Kinghorn micht be, Nor onything aboot it. Tis awfu’! Yet ’twad seem to ca’ For peety mair than scorn, man, For mind ye, ’tisna gi’en to a’ To live aboot Kinghorn, man. City Friend (visiting in Scottish rural town). And tell me, Andrew, are you wi’ the Wee Kirkers, or the United Frees? Andrew. Man, I’m gi’en’ up releegion a’thegither, an j’inin’ the Auld Kirk. The Scotsman who tumbled off a bicycle says that in future he intends to “let wheel alone.” My Only “Crossed Checks.”—My own Shepherd’s-plaid Trousers. |