to gavin hamilton, esq., mauchline,

rmending a boy.

mossgaville, may 3, 1786.

i hold it, sir, my bounden duty

to warn you how that master tootie,

alias, laird m'gaun,

was here to hire yon lad away

'bout whom ye spak the tither day,

an' wad hae don't aff han';

but lest he learn the callan tricks—

an' faith i muckle doubt him—

like scrapin out auld crummie's nicks,

an' tellin lies about them;

as lieve then, i'd have then

your clerkship he should sair,

if sae be ye may be

not fitted otherwhere.

altho' i say't, he's gleg enough,

an' 'bout a house that's rude an' rough,

the boy might learn to swear;

but then, wi' you, he'll be sae taught,

an' get sic fair example straught,

i hae na ony fear.