as taught to the poet by her father, Charles Middleton, Aboyne

My mither said
I maun go
Wi ma daddy’s denner-o
Chappit tatties, beef an steak
Twa reid herrin an a bawbee cake

I cam tae a river
I cudna get across
I pyed 5 shullins
Fur an auld blin horse
I jumped on his back
An I gied him sic a crack
That I made him daunce the polkie
Till the boat cam back