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!