The hares were hirplin' down the The lav'rocks they were chantin' As lightsomely I glowr'd abroad, limping furrows looked wenches walking along Twa had manteeles o' dolefu' black, But ane wi' lyart lining; The third, that gaed a-wee a-back, Fu' gay that day. The twa appeared like sisters twin, The third cam up, hap-step-an'-lowp,1 As light as ony lambie, And wi' a curchie low did stoop, Fu' kind that day. Wi' bonnet, aff, quoth I: "Sweet lass, 1 Hop-skip-and-leap. gray Quo' she, and laughin' as she spak, And taks me by the hands: "Ye, for my sake, hae gien the feck Of a' the ten commands most rent And that's Hypocrisy. I'm gaun to Mauchline Holy Fair, To spend an hour in daffin': Gin ye'll go there, yon runkled pair, We will get famous laughin' At them this day." Quoth I: "With a' my heart, I'll do't; Faith, we'se hae fine remarkin'! Then I gaed hame at crowdie-time, For roads were clad, from side to side, Wi' mony a weary body, In droves that day. sport wrinkled breakfast Here farmers gash, in ridin' graith, sensible attire Gaed hoddin by their cotters; There, swankies young, in braw braid jogging striplings claith, Are springin' o'er the gutters. The lasses, skelpin' barefit, thrang, walking along In silks and scarlets glitter; Wi' sweet-milk cheese, in monie a whang, cut And farls baked. wi' butter, Fu' crump that day. When by the plate we set our nose, cakes crisp look Some carrying dails, some chairs, and stools, portions And some are busy blethrin' Right loud that day. Here stands a shed to fend the showers, (of food)? chatting There, Racer Jess,2 and twa-three w―s, Here sits a raw of tittlin' jauds, Wi' heaving breast and bare neck, And there a batch o' wabster lads, Blackguarding frae Kilmarnock For fun this day, weaver 1 Black-bonnet, a cant name for the elder stationed beside the plate at the door for receiving the offerings of the congregation. 2 A poor half-witted girl of the name of Gibson (daughter of Poosie Nansie), who was remarkable for pedestrian powers, and sometimes went with messages for hire. Here, some are thinkin' on their sins, And some upo' their claes; Anither sighs and prays: On this hand sits a chosen swatch, sample busily occupied Oh happy is that man and blest! Wi' arm reposed on the chair back, Which, by degrees, slips round her neck, An's loof upon her bosom, Unkenn'd that day. Now a' the congregation o'er Is silent expectation : For Moodie speels the holy door, sitting palm climbs 1 In the Kilmarnock edition, the word was salvation; it was changed at the suggestion of Dr. Blair of Edinburgh. Moodie was the minister of Riccarton, and one of the heroes of The Twa Herds. He was a never-failing assistant at the Mauchline sacraments. His personal appearance and style of oratory were exactly such as described by the poet. He dwelt chiefly on the terrors of the law. On one occasion, he told the audience that they would find the text in John viii. Should Hornie, as in ancient days Hear how he clears the points o' Faith Now meekly calm, now wild in wrath, Oh how they fire the heart devout, On sic a day! hot unearthly But hark! the tent has changed its voice; There's peace and rest nae langer; For a' the real judges rise, They canna sit for anger. Smith opens out his cauld harangues,1 And aff the godly pour in thrangs, A lift that day. 44, but it was so applicable to their case, that there was no need of his reading it to them. The verse begins: "Ye are of your father the devil," etc. 1 Mr. (afterwards Dr.) George Smith, minister of Galston the same whom the poet introduces in a different feeling, under the appellation of Irvine-side in The Kirk's Alarm. Burns meant on this occasion to compliment him on his |