CHAP. xvn. SONG OF A GEOLOGIST. 277 



the Wick newspaper, where it was printed under the 

 title of the " Song of a Geologist." * 



Hammers an' chisels an' a', 



Chisels an' fossils an' a ; 

 Sir Rory's the boy, o' the right sort o' stuff, 



Hurrah ! for the hammers sae braw. 



It's good to be breaking a stone, 



The work now is lucky an' braw ; 

 It's grand to be finding a bone 



A fish-bone the grandest of a'. 



Hammers an' chisels an' a', 



Chisels an' fossils an' a ; 

 Resurrection's our trade ; by raising the dead 



We've grandeur an' honour an' a'. 



May labour be crown'd wi' success 

 May prudence promulgate the story 



May scoffers grow every day less, 



Till the rocks are a mountain o' glory. 



Hammers an' chisels an' a', 



Chisels an' fossils an' a' ; 

 The deeper we go, the more we shall know 



Of the past an' the recent an' a'. 



Here's freedom to dig and to learn 

 Here's freedom to think an' to speak ; 



There's nane ever grumbled to look at a stone, 

 But creatures baith stupid an' weak. 



Hammers an' chisels an' a', 



Chisels an' fossils an' a' ; 

 In spite of the devil we'll dig as we're able 



Hurrah ! for the hammers sae braw. 



AMYGDALOID. 



* It is said that these verses so pleased Sir Roderick 

 13* 



