278 " The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



sturdy to row, and dredge, and climb the hill, when 

 on the verge of eighty-four. The only pity is that 

 while his ribs were "in bits," he did not secure an 

 annuity, like the "waesome wife o' saxty-three" in 

 the poem. The piece referred to is entitled, " Charge 

 on a Bond of Annuity," by the late George Outram, 

 Esq., Editor of the Glasgow Herald. It is a fine 

 specimen of Scotch humour, to which Mr. Robertson 

 gave a prominent place in his commonplace book. 

 The reader will scarcely think that any apology is 

 needed for the quotation of it, which may even excite 

 his gratitude. 



" I gaed to spend a week in Fife- - 



An unco week it proved to be ; 

 For there I met a waesome wife 



Lamenting her viduity. 

 Her grief brak out sae fierce and fell, 

 I thought her heart wad burst the shell ; 

 And I was sae left tae myseF 



I selPt her an annuity. 



" The bargain lookit fair eneugh 



She was just turn'd o' saxty-three 



I couldna guess she'd prove sae teugh 

 By human ingenuity. 



But years hae come and years hae gone, 



And there she's yet as stieve's a stane 



The limmer's grovvin' young again 

 Since she's got her annuity. 



" She's crined awa' tae bane and skin, 

 But that, it seems, was nought to me ; 



She's like to live, although she's in 

 The last stage o' tenuity. 



She munches wi' her wizzent gums, 



An' stumps about on legs o' thrums, 



But comes as sure as Christmas comes 

 To ca' for her annuity. 



