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 thew

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!