3
Than to oppreſs a poor man ſo,
and tax his very dog, sir.
This morning, or I came frae hame,
I ſaw three collies die, Sir
Their owner's could not pay the tax,
tho't had been but ſhillings three, Sir.
O if they had but come to me,
or yet to Madge, my wife, Sir,
This year's taxation we would pay'd,
to ſav'd their collies life,
My heart was wae to ſee the brutes
ſhare ſic untimely fate, Sir,
The country ſure muſt be right poor,
when they uphold the ſtate, Sir.
There's mony dogs, I frankly own,
that‘s uſeleſs for to keep, Sir;
But country collies uſeful are,
for herding of our sheep, Sir.
My collie is an unco beaſt,
and meikle ſenſe he has, Sir,
And when the ſheep ſtrays o'er far aff,
he gi'es them mony a chaſe, Sir.
I canna want my collie dog,
mair than meat to my wime, Sir;
