(_Died at Edinburgh, Saturday, March 2, 1895, in his 86th year._)
Thou brave old Scot! And art thou gone?
How much of light with thee's departed!
Philosopher--yet full of fun,
Great humorist--yet human-hearted;
A Caledonian--yet not dour,
A scholar--yet not dry-as-dusty;
A pietest--yet never sour!
O, stout and tender, true and trusty
Octogenarian optimist,
The world for thee seemed aye more sunny.
We loved thee better for each twist
Which streaked a soul as sweet as honey.
We shall not see _thy_ like again!
We've fallen on times most queer and quacky,
And oft shall miss the healthy brain
And manly heart of brave old BLACKIE!
* * * * *
MRS. R. says she wouldn't miss the Naval and Military at Sandown for
anything.
* * * * *
[Illustration: USEFUL HINT.
(_For surmounting the Snow-drifts whenever they may be, as they have
been till quite recently, heaped up behind most of the Fences._)
_Sportsman_ (_with Spade_). "WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT IT FOR THE WORLD, OLD
CHAP! HAD TO DIG MYSELF OUT NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES TO-DAY!"]
* * * * *