Note 295 — THE BORDER TOUR.
Reading edition
“During the discourse Burns produced a neat impromptu, conveying an elegant compliment to Miss Ainslie. Dr. B. had selected a text of Scripture that contained a heavy denunciation against obstinate sinners. In the course of the sermon Burns observed the young lady turning over the leaves of her Bible, with much earnestness, in search of the text. He took out a slip of paper, and with a pencil wrote the following lines on it, which he immediately presented to her.
“Fair maid, you need not take the hint, Nor idle texts pursue:— ’Twas guilty sinners that he meant,— Not angels such as you.”
Cromek.