He is the "daith's-heid at the feast;" He's always in employment; His greatest pleesure is tae keep Mankind frae a' enjoyment. When we are on a holiday We want the sun tae smile again, An' gie's a joyfu' cloudless day; It's then Curmudgeon prays for rain. To him, there's great men in this warl', There's equals and inferiors; He scorns the honest working-man, And fawns on his superiors. He licks the rich man's dirty buits, An' never min's the flavour; By every means he tries tae gain The lordling's smile an' favour. A bonnie lass gaes dancin' by, Wha's licht o' hert an' cheerie; He tells the next man that he meets She's anybody's dearie. An' if he meets a sober lass Wha has nae smile tae greet him, He says "still waters aft rin deep, An' the deevil lies beneath them." The lads are a' gaun tae the deuce Wi' impudence an' pride, man! Their lauch an' sang an' merry ploy Curmudgeon canna bide, man. He is an elder in the kirk, Believes in fire an' blood, man; An' for oor sins wad burn us up Or droon us in a flood, man. Curmudgeon is a thrifty carle, The siller he can hain, man; Tae catch the bawbees on the hop Curmudgeon's ever fain, man. It maiters na' hoo it may come, Tae him it's always gain, man; Owre ilk yin's fauts he greets an' granes, An' never min's his ain, man. Tae damp the fire o' age an' youth He's like a sowkit blanket; We hae na mony o' his kin', "Sae let the Lord be thankit." Burns e'en had peety for the Deil, Deep doon in his vile dungeon; But Clootie is a gentleman Compared wi' auld Curmudgeon. THE BONNIE BANKS O' CREE. Down by the river Cree I stray This lovely day in June; The birds are sweetly singing. The wild rose is in bloom, The sparkling waters flowing From the high-land rocks set free In kingly style and glory by The bonnie banks o' Cree. O, if I were an artist true I'd paint this scene so fair-- Fields and flowers and shaggy woods, And streams and mountains bare. And if I were a minstrel bard I'd sing in praise of thee, The wild birds to outrival on The bonnie banks o' Cree. Sweet river, I must leave you, And I leave you with regret: This glorious day upon thy banks I never will forget. I may again, if Heaven wills, Enjoy thy charms and see The love-inspiring beauty of The bonnie banks o' Cree. CHANCELLOR'S SEAT, LEADHILLS.