The soul-stirring pipes are 0’ music the crown; To the ear of the Scotchmen one screed 0’ your chanter Is better than a’ the brass bands 0’ the Town.” JOHN “Keep cool, Alexander! I cannot commend you For having a very nice delicate ear; And must venture to say, should it even offend you, Your musical taste is confoundedly queer, What are all the loud sounds, from beginning to ending, Produced on your pipes, with the greatest of care, But a jargon of discords, confusedly blending In noise, very few, besides Scotchmen, can bear?

“And Sandy, my man, just to shorten the story, — For fine execution and musical sound,

You should hear the ‘brass band’ of Galbraith in its glory, Delighting the gentry on Government Ground;

Unlike the shrill tones of the bagpipes when squealing, These instruments charm the most civilized car,

And stir up the depths of an Englishman’s feeling, With music Beethoven might listen to hear.”

SANDY “Dinna rave, mon, sae loud o’ Galbraith and Beethoven! That the sounds o’ the bagpipes have civilized mair Than a’ the brass bands, ever blown, can be proven; This Donald the piper is ready to swear. Aft fechting abroad in the land 0’ the stranger, Th’ invincible Scot never knows a defeat; But, piping the flag 0’ Great Britain thro’ danger, He plays every air in the world, — but retreat.

“Tis there, ye should hear the bold pibroch, worth hearing; The sounds that inspirit the souls of the brave;

When the fierce kilted Scotchman goes forward wi’ cheering, Some Alma to conquer, some Lucknow to save.

For a raid on the mountain, for fight or for forage, The ball-room’s diversion, or battle’s affray

The blowers o’ brass bands are no worth their porridge, And ken less about music than rinnin’ away.

“Oh! saw ye the crowds in their wonder surrounding

34