epistletojamessmith friendship,mysteriouscementofthesoul! sweet'neroflife,andsolderofsociety! iowetheemuch—blair. dearsmith,theslee'st,pawkiethief, thate'erattemptedsteahorrief! yesurelyhaesomewarlock-brief owrehumanhearts forne'erabosomyetwasprief againstyourarts. forme,iswearbysunan'moon, an'ev'rystarthatblinksaboon, ye'vecostmetwentypairo'shoon, justgauntoseeyou an'ev'ryitherpairthat'sdone, mairtaeni'mwi'you. thatauld,capriciouscarlin,nature, tomakamendsforscrimpitstature, she'sturn'dyouoff,ahumancreature onherfirstplan, andinherfreaks,onev'ryfeature she'swrotetheman. justnowi'veta'enthefito'rhyme, mybarmienoddle'sworkingprime. myfancyyerkitupsublime, wi'hastysummon haeyealeisure-moment'stime tohearwhat'scomin? somerhymeaneibor'snametolash somerhyme(vainthought!)forneedfu'cash somerhymetocourtthecountraclash, an'raiseadin forme,anaimineverfash irhymeforfun. thestarthatrulesmylucklesslot, hasfatedmetherussetcoat, an'damn'dmyfortunetothegroat but,inrequit, hasblestmewitharandom-shot o'countrawit. thiswhilemynotion'staenasklent, totrymyfateinguid,blackprent butstilhemairi'mthatwaybent, somethingcries“hooklie!” iredyou,honestman,taktent? ye'llshawyourfolly “there'sitherpoets,muchyourbetters, farseeningreek,deepmeno'letters, haethoughttheyhadensur'dtheirdebtors, a'futureages nowmothsdeform,inshapelesstatters, theirunknownpages.” thenfarewellhopesoflaurel-boughs, togarlandmypoeticbrows! henceforthi'llrovewherebusyploughs arewhistlin'thrang, an'teachthelanelyheightsan'howes myrusticsang. i'llwanderon,wi'tentlessheed hownever-haingmomentsspeed, tillfateshallsnapthebrittlethread then,allunknown, i'lllaymewithth'ingloriousdead forgotandgone! butwhyo'deathbeingatale? justnowwe'relivingsoundandhale thentopandmaintopcrowdthesail, heavecareo'er-side! andlarge,beforeenjoyment'sgale, let'stakthetide. thislife,saefar'siunderstand, isa'enchantedfairy-land, wherepleasureisthemagic-wand, that,wieldedright, makshourslikeminutes,handinhand, dancebyfu'light. themagic-wandthenletuswield forancethatfive-an'-forty'sspeel'd, see,crazy,weary,joylesseild, wi'wrinkl'dface, comeshostin,hirplinowrethefield, we'creepinpace. whenancelife'sdaydrawsnearthegloamin, thenfareweelvacant,carelessroamin an'fareweelcheerfu'tankardsfoamin, an'socialnoise: an'fareweeldear,deludingwoman, thejoyofjoys! olife!howpleasant,inthymorning, youngfancy'sraysthehillsadorning! cold-pausingcaution'slessonscorning, wefriskaway, likeschool-boys,atth'expectedwarning, tojoyan'play. wewanderthere,wewanderhere, weeyetheroseuponthebrier, unmindfuhatthethornisnear, amongtheleaves andtho'thepunywoundappear, shortwhileitgrieves. some,lucky,findaflow'ryspot, forwhichtheynevertoil'dnorswat theydrinkthesweetandeatthefat, butcareorpain andhaplyeyethebarrenhut withhighdisdain. withsteadyaim,somefortunechase keenhopedoesev'rysinewbrace thro'fair,thro'foul,theyurgetherace, an'seizetheprey: thencannie,insomecozieplace, theyclosetheday. andothers,likeyourhumbleservan', poorwights!naerulesnorroadsobservin, torightorlefteternalswervin, theyzig-zagon till,curstwithage,obscurean'starvin, theyaftengroan. alas!whatbittertoilan'straining— buttrucewithpeevish,poorcomplaining! isfortune'sficklelunawaning? e'nlethergang! beneathwhatlightshehasremaining, let'ssingoursang. mypenihereflingtothedoor, andkneel,yepow'rs!andwarmimplore, “tho'ishouldwanderterrao'er, inallherclimes, grantmebutthis,iasknomore, ayerowtho'rhymes. “giedreepinroaststocountralairds, tillicicleshingfraetheirbeards giefinebrawclaestofinelife-guards, andmaidsofhonour an'yillan'whiskygietocairds, untiheysconner. “atitle,dempstermeritsit agartergietowilliepitt gieweahtosomebe-ledger'dcit, incent.percent. butgivemereal,sterlingwit, andi'mcontent. “whileyearepleas'dtokeepmehale, i'llsitdowno'ermyscantymeal, be'twater-broseormuslin-kail, wi'cheerfu'face, aslang'sthemusesdinnafail tosaythegrace.” ananxiouse'eineverthrows behintmylug,orbymynose ijoukbeneathmisfortune'sblows asweel'simay swornfoetosorrow,care,andprose, irhymeaway. oyedoucefolkthatlivebyrule, grave,tideless-blooded,calman'cool, compar'dwi'you—ofool!fool!fool! howmuchunlike! yourheartsarejustastandingpool, yourlives,adyke! naehair-brain'd,sentimentaraces inyourunletter'd,namelessfaces! inariosotrillsandgraces yeneverstray butgravissimo,solemnbasses yehumaway. yearesaegrave,naedoubtye'rewise naeferlytho'yedodespise thehairum-scairum,ram-stamboys, therattlingsquad: iseeyeupwardcastyoureyes— yekentheroad! whilsti—butishallhaudmethere, wi'youi'llscarcegangonywhere— then,jamie,ishallsaynaemair, butquatmysang, contentwi'youtomakapair. whare'erigang.