Poems and Songs of Robert Burns

  reply to an announcement by j. rankine on his writing to the poet,
  that a girl in that part of the country was with a child to him.
  i am a keeper of the law
  in some sma' points, altho' not a';
  some people tell me gin i fa',
  ae way or ither,
  the breaking of ae point, tho' sma',
  breaks a' thegither.
  i hae been in for't ance or twice,
  and winna say o'er far for thrice;
  yet never met wi' that surprise
  that broke my rest;
  but now a rumour's like to rise—
  a whaup's i' the nest!