on the birth of a posthumous child

born in peculiar circumstances of family distress.

sweet flow'ret, pledge o' meikle love,

and ward o' mony a prayer,

what heart o' stane wad thou na move,

sae helpless, sweet, and fair?

november hirples o'er the lea,

chil, on thy lovely form:

and gane, alas! the shelt'ring tree,

should shield thee frae the storm.

may he who gives the rain to pour,

and wings the blast to blaw,

protect thee frae the driving show'r,