Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/65

 HOLY JAMIE'S PRAYER.

(With apologies to the shade of Burns.)

O Lord, Thou'st gi'en me gear an' gold; Wherever I hae bocht an' sold Thou'st heapit profits manifold: To Thee the glory! So twa three maitters I mak' bold To lay afore Ye.

Thou kenst I'm piously inclined; That gift o' land Thou'lt ca' to mind— I've got the contract a'most signed To big a store (Virtue and profit are combined) Just by the door.

Twa vessels o' Thy chosen nation Have aye enjoyed Thine approbation (The ither Jamie is a caution! He dings us a'); Thou'st raised us to our lofty station, We dinna craw.

Canty and croose we pu'd thegither, Workin' as brither works wi' brither,