“Minstrels of merit, ilk ane come, Sough mournfu’ notes o’er Johnie’s tomb; Through fields of air applaud him home— I hope he’s weel; His worth, nae doubt, has sav’d him from The muckle de’il. EPITAPH. “Here lies dear John, whase pipe and drone, And fiddle aft has made us glad; Whase cheerfu’ face our feasts did grace— A sweet and merry lad.” The Border pipers were supposed by their countrymen to excel in musical skill and graceful execution those of the Highlands, and they commanded a higher degree of respect than wandering musicians. They traversed the country at particular seasons, chiefly in spring, for the purpose of collecting seed corn—John Hastie apparently was too dignified for this, as witness the reference to playing “for bear, for pease, or ates”—and they were the last remains of the minstrelsy of the Borders. “Like a’ the girning piper race” shows that the pipe then commonly used in Jedburgh was the Lowland, as that inflated with the mouth prevented “girning.” Either John played the latter, or he had such command of his features that he did not allow his music to deprive him of his pleasant looks. The village of Kilbarchan, too, had its piper. He was a notable person in his day, and also proved himself worthy of the attention of the poet. It was the habit in Kilbarchan for the piper to play a march called “The Maiden Trace” before a bride as previous to her marriage she walked with her maidens three times round the church. “Trixie,” in the following epitaph, which was first printed in 1706, refers to a then popular song:— “The Epitaph of Habbie Simson Who on his drone bore bony flags He made his cheeks as red as Crimson And babbed when, he blew the Bags. “Kilbarchan now may say, alas! For she hath lost her Game and Grace Both Trixie and the Maiden Trace But what remead? For no man can supply his place Hab Simson’s dead. “Now who shall play, the day it daws? Or hunt up, when the Cock he craws? Or who can for the Kirk—town—cause, Stand us in stead? On Bagpipes (now) no Body blaws Fen Habbie’s dead. “Or wha will cause our Shearers shear? Wha will bend up the Brags of Weir Bring in the Bells or good play meir In time of need? Hab Simson could, what needs you speer? But (now) he’s dead.