Puir souls, in right not unco strong, Through love and want and a’ that, There sure is power to right their wrong, And save their souls, for a’ that-- For a’ that, and a’ that. The Lord is guid for a’ that; The de’il himsel’ can turn and mend, And come to Heaven for a’ that. On Scotia’s hills the gowans spring, The heather blooms, and a’ that; The mavis and the merlé sing, But Heaven’s my home for a’ that-- For a’ that, and a’ that. I wadna’ change for a’ that. He who once finds the Heaven aboon Will not come back for a’ that. WORDS O’ CHEER. [Given under the inspiration of Robert Burns.] GUID FRIENDS: ALTHOUGH not present to your sight, I gie ye greeting here to-night; Not claiming to be perfect quite, Frae taint o’ passion, Yet will I hauld my speech aright, In guid Scotch fashion. O, could some cantie[B] word o’ mine, But make your careworn faces shine, Or cause the hearts in grief that pine, To throb with pleasure, Then wad my cup to auld lang syne, Fill to its measure. The gracious powers above us, know How sair a weight of want and woe Must be the lot of those who go Through Earth to Heaven; But aye, the life aboon will show Wherefore ’twas given. And that guid God who loves us a’, Who sees the chittering[C] sparrow fa’, Will never turn his face awa’, Though you should stray; But all his wandering sheep will ca’ Back to the way. So muckle[D] are the cares o’ men, That Truth at times is hard to ken, And Error, to her grousome[E] den, So dark and eerie, Wiles those who have na heart to men’;[F] Puir wanderers weary. Alack! how mony a luckless wight Has gane agley[G] in Error’s night, Not that he had less love for right Than countless ithers; But that he lacked the keener sight Of his guid brithers. Lo! Calvin, Knox, and Luther, cry “I have the Truth”--“and I”--“and I.”-- “Puir sinners! if ye gang agley, The de’il will hae ye, And then the Lord will stand abeigh, And will na save ye.” But hoolie[H] hoolie! Na sae fast; When Gabriél shall blaw his blast, And Heaven and Earth awa’ have passed, These lang syne saints, Shall find baith de’il and hell at last, Mere pious feints. The upright, honest-hearted man, Who strives to do the best he can, Need never fear the Church’s ban, Or hell’s damnation; For God will need na special plan For his salvation.