There was a naughty Boy, And a naughty Boy was he, He ran away to Scotland The people for to see-- Then he found That the ground Was as hard, That a yard Was as long, That a song Was as merry, That a cherry Was as red-- That lead Was as weighty, That fourscore Was as eighty, That a door Was as wooden As in England-- So he stood in his shoes And he wonder'd He wonder'd, He stood in his shoes And he wonder'd. [Newton Stewart, July 4.] My dear Fanny, I am ashamed of writing you such stuff, nor would I if it were not for being tired after my day's walking, and ready to tumble into bed so fatigued that when I am asleep you might sew my nose to my great toe and trundle me round the town, like a Hoop, without waking me. Then I get so hungry a Ham goes but a very little way and fowls are like Larks to me--A Batch of Bread I make no more ado with than a sheet of parliament; and I can eat a Bull's head as easily as I used to do Bull's eyes. I take a whole string of Pork Sausages down as easily as a Pen'orth of Lady's fingers. Ah dear I must soon be contented with an acre or two of oaten cake a hogshead of Milk and a Clothes-basket of Eggs morning noon and night when I get among the Highlanders. Before we see them we shall pass into Ireland and have a chat with the Paddies, and look at the Giant's Causeway which you must have heard of--I have not time to tell you particularly for I have to send a Journal to Tom of whom you shall hear all particulars or from me when I return. Since I began this we have walked sixty miles to Newton Stewart at which place I put in this Letter--to-night we sleep at Glenluce--to-morrow at Portpatrick and the next day we shall cross in the passage boat to Ireland. I hope Miss Abbey has quite recovered. Present my Respects to her and to Mr. and Mrs. Abbey. God bless you. Your affectionate Brother, JOHN. Do write me a Letter directed to _Inverness_, Scotland. LVIII.--TO THOMAS KEATS. Auchtercairn [for Auchencairn,] 3rd [for 2d] July 1818. My dear Tom--We are now in Meg Merrilies's country, and have this morning passed through some parts exactly suited to her. Kirkcudbright County is very beautiful, very wild, with craggy hills, somewhat in the Westmoreland fashion. We have come down from Dumfries to the sea-coast part of it. The following song you will have from Dilke, but perhaps you would like it here.[71]... [Newton Stewart,] July 5th [for 4th].