nsense]
'Tam Samson's dead!'

There low he lies in lasting rest;
Perhaps upon his mould'ring breast
Some spitfu' muirfowl bigs her nest, [builds]
To hatch and breed;
Alas! nae mair he'll them molest!
Tam Samson's dead!

When August winds the heather wave,
And sportsmen wander by yon grave,
Three volleys let his memory crave
O' pouther an' lead, [powder]
Till Echo answer frae her cave
'Tam Samson's dead!'

'Heav'n rest his saul, where'er he be!'
Is th' wish o' mony mae than me: [more]
He had twa fauts, or maybe three,
Yet what remead? [remedy]
Ae social honest man want we: [One]
Tam Samson's dead!

THE EPITAPH

Tam Samson's weel-worn clay here lies:
Ye canting zealots, spare him!
If honest worth in heaven rise,
Ye'll mend ere ye win near him.

_Per Contra_

Go, Fame, an' canter like a filly
Thro' a' the streets an' neuks o' Killie, [nooks]
Tell ev'ry social honest billie [fellow]
To cease his grievin',
For yet, unskaith'd by Death's gleg gullie, [unharmed, nimble knife]
Tam Samson's livin'!

[23] In curling, to _guard_ is to protect one stone by another in
front; to _draw_ is to drive a stone into a good position by striking
it with another; to _wick a bore_ is to hit a stone obliquely and send
it through between two others.

[24] The line a curling stone must cross to stay in the game.

ELEGY ON CAPT. MATTHEW HENDERSON,

A GENTLEMAN WHO HELD THE PATENT FOR HIS HONOURS IMMEDIATELY FROM
ALMIGHTY GOD

O Death! thou tyrant fell and bloody!
The meikle devil wi' a woodie [big, gallows-rope]
Haurl thee hame to his black smiddie [Drag, smithy]
O'er hurcheon hides, [hedgehog]
And like stock-fish come o'er his studdie [anvil]
Wi' thy auld sides!

He's gane, he's gane! he's frae us torn, [gone]
The ae best fellow e'er was born! [one]
Thee, Matthew, Nature's sel' shall mour