THE LATE DR HUTTON AS POET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 13

THE LATE DR HUTTON AS POET.

It is not generally kcov/n that the late Dr Button, redoubtable ecclesiastical warrior though he was, at one period of Ids life sought repose, a,nd we believe found it, in the Malm of poesy. When a student at Edinburgh University he attended the classes of " Christopher" North " and Profeasor Aytoun. With the latter ho was a favourite, and.the autlwr of "Lays of tho Scottish Cavaliers" more tlian once complimented him on his verses, to the writing of which he was tjisu much addicted. Indeed, Aytoun thought so highly of one of bis poems that ho avowed his inteution of having it printed Ifc. Blackwood. In 1846 he entered the lists for the best poem ori a temperance theme. Theie were 146 competitors for the prises, three in number, offered by the committee of the Edinburgh Total Abstinence Society. Hie arbiters' wero Professor John Wilson, Robert Kayo Greville, and Richard Huie. Dr Huttorj' was awarded the third prize for the following:— ■ ■ THE OHANGED GUID-MAN, Wiat oery midnichts anoo I liad, Wi' wearyin' on him hame; They ma-iatly ga-rxed mo rue tho day I changed my maiden name. It mods me gruo to hear his foot Sao heavy on the stair; An' little Johnnie -ran to hide Ahiflt the elbow-chair. But we have alterod e'enin's noo Since William left the dram; For gang ho oot, or come he im. He's gentle as a lamb, He never speaks an angry word, Love blinks aye in his ee; He's growin' like the kindly lad That langsyne courted me. The bottle's banished 'frac tho press, An' he is never dry; Nae toddy jug of whisky glass In a', tho house; hao I. Instead o' that, a couthy cup 0* tea wo tak' thegither; " An' for an':old friend that ca's We aye can spare anither. Wee Jookio is his faithoi;'6 pet, Ho gies him bools an' fairin'; It male's my-heart _ grow young wi' prids To hear him praise the bairn. We's claes for kirk an' market baith, An' household things an' a'; ' Tho cliilder look like-little kings, There's fow folk's weans sao brow. I'll ne'er forget when ho began To tak' tho Book an' pray; An', when we baith knelt down—'twas liko A second, marriage day. If there's a beam o' pride-fu' joy Ohcers woman's heart on earth, 'Tis hers wlia male's the kettle sing On tho teetotaller's hearth-