To Agnes McLehose (Clarinda)
Thursday even: 6th December 1787
Madam,
I had set no small store by my tea-drinking tonight, and have not often been so disappointed.- Saturday evening I shall embrace the opportunity with the greatest pleasure.- I leave this town this day se'ennight , and probably for a couple of twelvemonth but must ever regret that I so lately gott an acquaintance I shall ever highly esteem, and in whose welfare I shall ever be warmly interested.-.
Our worthy common friend,( Miss Nimmo), in her usual pleasant way, rallied me a good deal on my new acquaintance, and in the humor of her ideas I wrote some lines which I inclose you, as I think they have a good deal of poetic merit; and Miss N - tells me, you are not only a Critic but a Poetess.- Fiction, you know , is the native region of Poetry; and I hope you will pardon my vanity in sending you the bagatelle as a tolerable off-hand jeux d'esprit.- I have several poetic trifles which I shall gladly leave with Miss N - or you, if they were worth houseroom; as there are scarcely two people on earth by whom it would mortify me more to be forgotten, tho, at the distance of nine-score miles.-
I am, Madam, with the highest respect,
Your very humble servant
Robt Burns
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