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Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson]

A New Edition with Illustrations by A. S. Boyd
Robertson, J. Logie (1846-1922)
  
[dedication]

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PREFACE.
  
Hughie's Advice to Dauvit to Enjoy the Fine Weather.
  
Hughie refuses to Emigrate.
  
Hughie's Reply to the Laird's Intimation of a Visit.
  
Hughie's Anxiety for Davy on the Seas.
  
Hughie sympathises with Jocky on his well-earned Rest.
  
Hughie at the Maiden's Well.
  
Hughie's Waddin' Gift to his friend Jame.
  
The White Winter: Hughie dreads the Return of the Ice Age.
  
Hughie's Delight in the Return of Spring.
  
Hughie's Bachelor Party.
  
Hughie's Winter Excuse for a Dram.
  
Hughie Consoles and Counsels young Nannie in the Absence of Davie.
  
Hughie takes his Ease in his Inn.
  
Hughie Visits a Sick Friend.
  
Hughie on War and Sport.
  
Hughie's Early Memories.
  
A Stormy Night: Hughie hobnobbing at Home.
  
Hughie in Murnins: he Laments the Loss o' his Frien' Andro.
  
Hughie's Appraisement of the Ochils.
  
The Dog-Days: Hughie's Invitation to a Weaver Friend.
  
Hughie's Dedication.
  
Hughie's Advice to auld Tammy to tak' the Use o' his Savings.
  
Hughie driven in by a Tempest: he Defies the Elements from behind a Jorum.
  
Hughie Flatters Saunders with an Ironical Description of Himself.
  
Hughie's Advice to his Brother John.
  
Hughie's Flight as an Eagle.
  
Hughie Remonstrates with Davie— a Dour Critic.
  
Hughie in Love with a Shrew.
  
Hughie's Spring Sunshine dashed wi' Shadow.
  
A Weet Hairst: Hughie condoles wi' Saundie.
  
Hughie's Advice to Tammie to live less for the Future and more for the Present.
  
Hughie Lectures a Vain Old Maid.
  
Autolycus in Glendevon: Hughie falls in with Shakespeare.
  
Hughie's Views on Soldiering.
  
Hughie thinks himself now too old for Love.
  
Hughie's Indignation at the Conduct of the Absconding Elder.
  
Hughie's Anticipation of Hogmanay Night.
  
Hughie upon Human Conduct.
  
Hughie's Invitation to a Friend in the City.
  
Hughie's Belief in Present Duty.
  
Pyrrhine Bell: Hughie's old Valentine.
  
Hughie's Enjoyment of Summer in Glendevon.
  
Hughie seeks to console a Brother Shepherd, over-grieving for the Loss of his Son.
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Hughie at the Smiddy—A Dramatic Idyll.
  
Hughie moralises on the Value of Life.
  
Hughie on Evictions: he Lectures a Greedy Landlord.
  
Hughie marks with delight the Return of Spring.
  
Hughie's Friend, the Farmer of Westerha'.
  
Hughie's Letter of Invitation to the Laird, Entangled by Business or Pleasure in the Town.
  
Hughie Watches the Growth of the Grain.
  
Hughie Celebrates his Fiftieth Year.
  
Hughie's Song in Praise of the Simple Joys of Boyhood.
  
Hughie's Letter to a Prosperous Friend.
  
Hughie Directs the Rejoicings for the Queen's Jubilee.
  
Hughie Lectures the Local Editor, gone abroad on Leave and enjoying himself.
  
A Wet Day: Hughie's Pity for the Tinklers.
  
Hughie's Version of the Sitting Member's Address.
  
Hughie in Praise of the Native Brew.
  
Hughie's Monument.

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36

Hughie's Bachelor Party.

“Da lunæ propere novæ,
Da noctis mediæ.”
—Car. iii. 19.

Ay, here they come, thrang warstlin' up the brae
Like sheep in single file,
No' ane o' them wi' lang'age left—they're sae
Forfoughen wi' their toil.
Tammy, ye're first—but tailors for a broose!
Willie, my man, your paw!
Ye're pechan', Pate! Weel, Watty, what's the noos?
An' Lowrie's last o' a'!
What! no a wird? Weel, stand an' tak' a breath,
An' view the scene awhile;
I weel believe it, Pate, withoot the aith—
It was that hin'most mile.
39

Ay, lads, ye're high—ye're up amang the groose;
That was the muir-cock's craw!
But in! ye're welcome to the Shepherd's hoose;
I'm gled to see ye a'.
Draw in your chairs—na! no' until I see
Five auld frien's plantit richt!
An' noo, afore I fesh the barley-bree,
Nae politics the nicht!
There's Watty wi' the budget in his wime—
Noo, Watty, haud your haund;
The wise man says that a' thing has its time,
But here—ye're aff your laund.
Gude-fallowship's the fashion i' the hills,
An' fechtin' i' the toun:
If either Whig or Tory ventur'd till 's—
Man, we wad shute them doun!
Come, come! a bargain be't. An'hoo's your hoast?
An' what's the price o' woo'?
Has Bauby gotten owre that bairn she lost?
But was the deacon fu'?
40

That whusky duty!—but we'll lat it be;
It mayna get oor length!
Here's to ye, Pate! Willie—it's wat your ee!
Lad, that's the stuff for strength!
Here's a big bumper for us a' thegither!
But wha's that at the pane?
The new mune keekin' in a kind o' swither!
'Faith, we maun gie her ane!
Ane for the nicht; an' ane for Jock the cadger
Wha brocht the tappit hen;
An' ane for him, too, honest man! the gauger
Wha lost himsel' i' glen!
Nae pressin'—na! ilk man should ken his score!
A sober gauge is six!
There's water in a stoup ahint the door
For them that want to mix.
Na, but I'm blythe—I'm daft to see ye a'!
Lowrie, produce your flute,
We maun hae music;—first we'll take your blaw,
An' syne a sang fra Pate.
41

Then in a chorus sang we'll soop the heather
Till the waste places ring,
An' social coveys sleepin' soun' thegither
Break aff on startled wing.
An' let that churlish Nawbal o' a fermer,
Oor nippit neebor, hear;
An' lovely Abigail, as I may term her,
That should be—Dauvit's dear!
O Tam, ye're happy in your love for Meg,
Ye're blest—ye're free o' blame;
But I maun burn for what I daurna beg,—
For her I daurna name!
[_]

Note.—The reference in the 9th stanza is to the increased duty on whisky, threatened by a recent Budget.

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