Introducing Mr. B. The Farmer Collection

By Norman Strathearn Thomson and Nicholas Lennox

The book is to intorduce children to four of Scottish poet Robert Burns's most famous poems. They include, To a Mouse, To a Louse, and two others. Each poem is laid out in three steps to assist the children. Firstly there is a story that was inspired by the poem, then at the back of the book is an interpretation of the poem an

• Language: English
• Publisher: Norman Thomson
• Release date: Oct 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781775372226

Norman Strathearn Thomson

I was born in Perth Scotland and attended school in Glasgow. At the age of twenty three I emigrated to Canada, where I have spent my adult life raising a family and working. But absence does make the heart grow fonder. Throughout the years I have organized Burns Suppers for the Rotary Club, attended Burns Suppers at the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and participated in Burns Suppers at friends homes. Perhaps Burns is in my genes as my grandfather was the president of the Bridgeton Burns Club 1934/35. During many trips to Scotland I have visited the Burns Cottage and the spectacular New Bruns Birthplace Museum at Alloway.

Book preview

Bug Off!

 From Robert Burns poem

To a Louse

"O wad some Power the giftie gie us

To see oursels as ithers see us."

Bug1

    My name is Robert, and I was the oldest of the children in our family. We all attended the same primary school in Ayrshire in Scotland. It was really quite a small school and when it came time for me to leave to go to the high school there was a special school assembly. All the children’s families attended and the school hall was packed. My mother and father and brothers and sisters were all there. I could see my father checking his watch because he was a farmer and had to get back to the farm to milk the cows.

    During the assembly there were things that made us smile but we did not expect to have the chance to laugh out loud. But something occurred that day I knew I would never forget.

    The Head Teacher, Mr. Lunardi, told our parents, You should be proud of your children because they have all done well in the school exams. Then he started presenting some prizes and certificates to the students. 

    That is when it happened.

          My wee brother, William, poked me gently in the ribs. I looked at him.

He put his finger to his mouth to tell me not to speak.

    I frowned, and gave him a look that said, What?

    William pointed his finger to the front, and winked. I looked, but I couldn’t see anything unusual. 

    William silently mouthed the words, Look at Mrs. Lunardi, who was the head teacher’s wife.

    It wasn’t hard to see her. She was sitting in the very first row. 

    Mrs. Lunardi dressed in fancy clothes and wore a big hat. Suddenly there it was. What William had been pointing to.

    I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Bug2A

    There was a big black bug crawling out of Mrs. Lunardi’s hair onto the collar of her dress. I turned to William and we both put our hands over our mouths to stop us laughing.

     He whispered, Can you believe it?

    I quietly replied, No, what is it doing there? There’s nothing for a bug on a fancy lady like that.

    I slumped down in the seat so I was alongside my wee brother and again he whispered, It’s an ugly, creepy looking bug. The kind everybody hates. I don’t know how it would get there?

Bug3A

I said, "It shouldn’t