reply to an announcement by j. rankine on his writing to the poet,
that a girl in that part of the country was with a child to him.
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.
i hae been in for't ance or twice,
and winna say o'er far for thrice;
yet never met wi' that surprise
that broke my rest;
but now a rumour's like to rise—
a whaup's i' the nest!