A wee bit o' Burns

[Penny Tray]

Young Peggy blooms our boniest lass,
Her blush is like the morning,
The rosy dawn, the springing grass
With early gems adorning.
Her eyes outshine the radiant beams
That gild the passing shower,
And glitter o’er the crystal streams,
And cheer each fresh’ning flower.

* YOUNG PEGGY

[exile]

That was an interesting read, Meg. I see Frederick Douglass spoke in Kilmarnock in 1846, I must have a look and see how it was reported in the press, if at all.

Frederick Douglass was the subject of the February 8th version of the excellent Radio 4 series In Our Time. Melvyn Bragg admitted he was unusually affected by what he read of Douglass' life. It's still on podcast.

[5siamese7]

Slavery is disgusting but as we all know Rabbie was in such dire straits that to Viginia he was going to go and at that time if he had gone there he would have had to keep his mouth shut. Fortunately he stayed here and was able to continue his wonderful writings. However whether he believed in what he wrote we don't know.

[5siamese7]

The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft aglee. Surely if you are scheming then you are thinking about the future. So it contradicts what he said about mice only thinking of the present. Again look at the wonderful dish he endorsed, who wants to eat lungs. And there again there are the lost hearts another ingredient of haggis. Why lost hearts because they were dished up in tins of meatballs which were very popular but it didn't say on the tin that the meat was hearts. When folk found out they were not so popular. Rabbie was a very clever man and a great loss to us when his life was cut short. However I think Rabbie was more interested in Rabbie than anybody else.

[Meg]

That was an interesting read, Meg. I see Frederick Douglass spoke in Kilmarnock in 1846, I must have a look and see how it was reported in the press, if at all.

Frederick Douglass was the subject of the February 8th version of the excellent Radio 4 series In Our Time. Melvyn Bragg admitted he was unusually affected by what he read of Douglass' life. It's still on podcast.

Thanks exile - will download and have a listen

Meg

[Penny Tray]

Ev’n them he canna get attended,
Altho their face he ne’er had kend it,
Just shite in a kail-blade, and send it,
As soon’s he smells ’t,
Baith their disease, and what will mend it,
At once he tells ’t.

*DEATH AND DOCTOR HORNBOOK

[John Donnelly]

Can somebody commend that to the NHS.
JD.

[Penny Tray]

But ye whom social pleasure charms,
Whose hearts the tide of kindness warms,
Who hold your being on the terms,
“Each aid the others,”
Come to my bowl, come to my arms,
My friends, my brothers!

*EPISTLE TO J. LAPRAIK

[Penny Tray]

There lives a lass beside yon park,
I’d rather have her in her sark
Than you wi’ a’ your thousand mark,
That gars you look saw high.

*O TIBBIE, I HAE SEEN THE DAY

[Penny Tray]

Do ye envy the city gent,
Behind a kist to lie an’ sklent;
Or purse-proud, big wi’ cent. per cent.
An’ muckle wame,
In some bit brugh, to represent
A bailie’s name?

*SECOND EPISTLE TO J. LAPRAIK

[Penny Tray]

I am a keeper of the law
In some sma’ points, altho not a’;
Some people tell me, gin I fa’
Ae way or ither
The breaking of ae point, tho sma’
Breaks a’ thegither.

*REPLY TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY JOHN RANKINE

[Penny Tray]

O thou, the first, the greatest friend
Of all the human race!
Whose strong right hand has ever been
Their stay and dwelling place!

*THE NINETIETH PSALM VERSIFIED