[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

And Changue was a pious guidly man,
For aft, at the day's decline,
He raid to the Alti-kirk* to pay
His devoirs at our lady's shrine.
And aye as before the haly cross
He kneel'd sae reverently,
Auld father Grub, the parish monk,
Locket on wi' a greedy e'e.
" What brings ye sae aften," says father Grub,
" To bend the penitent knee,
I fear ye hae done some evil deed
You hae nae confess'd to me.
" And well ye ken that never a sin
Ye may hope to be forgiven.
Till confession be made, and penance done.
And mass prevail with heaven."
" If feedin' an' cleedin' the naked poor,"
Says Changue, " be an evil deed,
And thankin' heaven that gies the power.
My weird will be ill to rede ;
" But of nae itlier ill, I ween.
Need I confession give.
Nor need they penance wha like me
In pious duty live."
" Ye sin, ye sin," cries father Grub,
" And an heretic near ye be,
Ye squander your gear on the worthless poor,
But it's little ye gie to me.
* " Alti-hirk"—so called from its elevated position amongst tlie hills of Carrick.
Its ruins stand on the farm of Knockgirran, parish of Barr, bv the side
of the little romantic glen of Pinwhapple. When in its " pomp and pride of
place" before the Reformation, it was, in all probability, a dependency of the
neighbouring Abbey of Crossraguel.
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