ON one of the poet’s visits to the Manse of Loudoun, the minister’s man (John Brooks by name) did not present himself to render the usual services at the dinner table. His attendance was dispensed with; but, on being questioned afterwards by Mr. Archibald Lawrie regarding his absence, John’s reply was held to be quite satisfactory:
“’Deed, Sir, I was just fleyed to come in for fear Burns should mak’ a poem o’ me!”
