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FABLES FOR THE FRIVOLOUS

"Though the Scot is stern, at least he  No unhappy creature spurns, 'Sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie,'" Quoth the piper (quoting Burns).
This was unaffected kindness,  But there was, to state the fact, Just a slight soupçon of blindness  In his charitable act. If you'd watched the piper, shortly  You'd have seen him leap aloft, As this snake, of ways uncourtly,  Bit him suddenly and oft.
There was really no excuse for  This, the viper's cruel work, And the piper found a use for  Words he'd never learned at kirk; But the biting was so thorough  That although the doctors tried, Not the best in Edinburgh  Could assist him, and he died.

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