I'd have to be a bit harsh, whiles, in a toon that hadna roused itself to the true state of affairs.

But what's a wee thing like that between friends and allies?
It's the New Year's day I'm thinking of, though.

New Year's is aye a sacred day for a' us Scots.

When we're frae hame we dinna lik it; it's a day we'd fain celebrate under our ain rooftree.

But for me it was mair so than for maist, because it was on New Year's day I heard o' my boy's death.
Weel, it seemed a hard thing tae ha' the New Year come in whiles I was journeying in a railroad car through the United States.