secondepistletoj.lapraik april21,1785 whilenew-ca'dkyerowteatthestake an'powniesreekinpleughorbraik, thishourone'enin'sedgeitake, toowni'mdebtor tohonest-hearted,auldlapraik, forhiskindletter. forjesketsair,withwearylegs, rattlinthecornout-owretherigs, ordealingthro'amangthenaigs theirten-hours'bite, myawkartmusesairpleadsandbegs iwouldnawrite. thetapetless,ramfeezl'dhizzie, she'ssaftatbestan'somethinglazy: quo'she,“yekenwe'vebeensaebusy thismonthan'mair, thattrowth,myheadisgrownrightdizzie, an'somethingsair.” herdowffexcusespatmemad “conscience,”saysi,“yethowlessjade! i'llwrite,an'thataheartyblaud, thisveranight sodinnayeaffrontyourtrade, butrhymeitright. “shallbauldlapraik,thekingo'hearts, tho'mankindwereapacko'cartes, rooseyousaeweelforyourdeserts, intermssaefriendly yetye'llneglecttoshawyourparts an'thankhimkindly?” saeigatpaperinablink, an'downgaedstumpieintheink: hi,“beforeisleepawink, ivowi'llcloseit an'ifyewinnamakitclink, byjove,i'llproseit!” saei'vebeguntoscrawl,butwhether inrhyme,orprose,orbaiththegither orsomehotch-potchthat'srightlyneither, lettimemakproof butishallscribbledownsomeblether justcleanaff-loof. myworthyfriend,ne'ergrudgean'carp, tho'fortuneuseyouhardan'sharp come,kittleupyourmoorlandharp wi'gleesometouch! ne'ermindhowfortunewaftandwarp she'sbutabitch. she'sgienmemonyajirtan'fleg, sin'icouldstriddleowrearig but,bythelord,tho'ishouldbeg wi'lyartpow, i'lllaughan'sing,an'shakemyleg, aslang'sidow! nowcomesthesax-an'-twentiethsimmer i'veseenthebuduponthetimmer, stillpersecutedbythelimmer fraeyeartoyear butyet,despitethekittlekimmer, i,rob,amhere. doyeenvythecitygent, behintakisttoliean'sklent orpursue-proud,bigwi'cent.percent. an'mucklewame, insomebitbrughtorepresent abailie'sname? oris'tthepaughty,feudahane, wi'ruffl'dsarkan'glancingcane, whathinkshimselnaesheep-shankbane, butlordlystalks whilecapsandbonnetsaffaretaen, asbyhewalks? “othouwhagiesuseachguidgift! giemeo'witan'sensealift, thenturnme,ifthouplease,adrift, thro'scotlandwide wi'citsnorlairdsiwadnashift, ina'theirpride!” werethisthecharterofourstate, “onpaino'hellberichan'great,” damnationthenwouldbeourfate, beyondremead but,thankstoheaven,that'snothegate welearnourcreed. forthustheroyalmandateran, whenfirstthehumanracebegan “thesocial,friendly,honestman, whate'erhebe— 'tishefulfilsgreatnature'splan, andnonebuthe.” omandategloriousanddivine! theraggedfollowerso'thenine, poor,thoughtlessdevils!yetmayshine ingloriouslight, whilesordidsonso'mammon'sline aredarkasnight! tho'heretheyscrape,an'squeeze,an'growl, theirworthlessnievefu'ofasoul mayinsomefuturecarcasehowl, theforest'sfright orinsomeday-detestingowl mayshunthelight. thenmaylapraikandburnsarise, toreachtheirnative,kindredskies, andsingtheirpleasures,hopesan'joys, insomemildsphere stillcloserknitinfriendship'sties, eachpassingyear!