Chapter II: Part 2

"Nae a pleasant thing hae ye left aneth,"
("There 's the company," quo' the Deevilock.)
"An' a weary Deil canna look for death."
("Here 's lang life to me," quo' the Deevilock.)
"It's Hell to hae naething to do but sit
An' curse at the creak o' the birlin' spit;
I'm red, red wi' rust, save the jinglin' keys,
I'd swap wi' a god wha is fond o' ease."
("Ha! ha!--ha! ha!" quo' the Deevilock.)

*A BACKCAST*

How lanely the nichts by the auld ingle cheek,
_Ohone, but a mither is nae like a wife,_
Regret on the creepie sits watchin' the reek,
_An' whaur are the dainties to comfort my life?_

The backcast is dreary o'er years that are spent,
_The rowan is withered, an' leafless the gean,_
They're gane noo for ever, but, eh! had I kent,
_Grim winter is reignin' where summer was queen_

I dammed for the lade that had never a wheel,
_The chickens were bonnie but noo they're awa',_
The castles I biggit gie other folk biel'.
_O wae tak' the gled that gaed aff wi' them a'._

A lassie proved fickle, unfaithfu' a frien',
_Tho' soorocks an' tansies grow green in the ha',_
An' a mither is a' I hae left o' my ain,
_The ivy sae kindly aye covers the wa'._

*THE LAWIN'*

The way o' transgressors is hard;
There cometh a day
The Wicked will get their reward,
The Devil his pay.

Cauld Death is the wages o' Sin:
Stents finished, we rue:
The thread, tho' sae pleasant to spin,
Has connached the woo'.

As soon as we've emptied the caup
The lawin's to clear;
Tho' thistles be only the crap
The sawer maun shear.

Sae let us consider it weel
Ere joinin' the fling,
The dancer when tired o' the reel
Maun pay for the spring.

_Then coont on the Lawin', the Lawin', the Lawin',_
_Keep mind o' the Lawin', forget na the score;_
_We pay what we're awin', we're awin', we're awin',_
_We pay a' we're awin' when Death's at the door._

*THE GYPSY*

O wasna he bauld for a tinker loon,--
Sim leant on his rake an' swore--
To fling a' his wallets an' bawd-skins doon,
An' rap at the castle door.

Wi' my Lord awa' at the Corbie's linn
There was man nor dog at hame,
Save a toothless bitch 'at was auld an' blin',
An' the gard'ner auld an' lame.

When my Lady heard she cam' doon the stair,
An' ben thro' the antlered ha',
Whaur, bonnet in hand, stood the gypsy there
As raggit as she was braw.

"O I hinna kettles to clout," she said,
"An' my spoons an' stoups are hale,
But gin ye gang roon' to the kitchen maid
She'll gie ye a waucht o' ale."

"It's never the way o' the gentry, na,
When visitin' 'mang their frien's,
To drink wi' the maids in the servants' ha'
Or speak about stoups an' speens.

"An' we are mair sib than ye think," quo' he,
"For his Lordship's father's mine;
Tho' the second wife was o' high degree,
His first was a gypsy queyn.

"An' the younger son got the lands an' a',
But the gypsies bettered me;
He is only laird o' a fairm or twa,
I'm king o' the covin-tree.

"Sae I am guid-brither to you, my lass,
An' head o' the auncient name;
An' it wouldna be richt for me to pass
Withoot cryin' in by hame."

O a hantle then did the twasome say,
An' muckle passed them between;
But at last 'twas "Sister, a fair good day,"
"Guid-brither, a fair good e'en."

_"My Lord comes hame fae the hunttn' soon,_
_An' he's big, weel-faured, an' braw,_
_But he isna a man like the tinker loon,_
_Wi' wallets an' rags an' a'."_

_"Gin she were as free as the maids I ken,_
_Dancin' bar'fit on the green;_
_As I am the King o' the gypsy men,_
_This nicht she would be my Queen."_

_But the bluid ran thin in the gard'ner Sim,_
_He'd heard o' the cairds afore,_
_An' the auld romance had nae charms for him,_
_He lockit the hen-hoose door._

*"BYDAND"*

There's a yellow thread in the Gordon plaid,
But it binds na my love an' me;
And the ivy leaf has brought dool and grief
Where there never but love should be.

For my lad would 'list: when a Duchess kiss't
He forgot a' the vows he made;
And he turned and took but ae lang, last look,
When the "Cock o' the North" was played.

O, her een were bright, an' her teeth were white
As the silver they held between;
But the lips he pree'd, were they half as sweet
As he vow'd 'at mine were yestreen?

A poor country lass, 'mang the dewy grass,
May hae whiles to kilt up her goon;
But a lady hie sae to show her knee,
And to dance in a boro' toon!

Gin I were the Duke, I could nae mair look
Wi' love on my high-born dame;
At a kilt or plaid I would hang my head,
And think aye on my lady's shame.

By my leefu' lane I sit morn an' e'en,
Prayin' aye for him back to me;
For now he's awa' I forgie him a'
Save the kiss he was 'listed wi'.

*THE OUTLAW'S LASS*

_Duncan's lyin' on the cauld hillside,_
_Donal's swingin' on the hangman's yew:_
_Black be the fa' o' the sergeant's bride_
_Wha broke twa troths to keep ae tryst true._

The red-coats march at the skreek o' day,
An' we maun lie on the brae the night;
Then here's to them safely on their way,
Speed to the mirk brings the mornin's fight.

Here's luck to me if you chance to fa',
An' here's to luck if it favours you;
For she's but ane, an' o' us there's twa,
To him that's left may she yet prove true.

In days to come, when the reivers ride,
They'll miss ae sword that was swift an' keen,
An' you or I, as the Fates decide,
Will curse the glint o' a woman's een.

A parting cup, we will drink it noo,
Syne break the quaich to a shattered faith;
Here's happiness to the lass we lo'e,
The lying lass wha deceived us baith.

_The soldiers drink in the change-house freet_
_The tinker's clinkin' a crackit quaich;_
_But cuddlin' there on the sergeant's knee_
_Wha is the lass that is lauchin' laich?_

*CHARON'S SONG*

Another boat-load for the Further Shore,
Heap them up high in the stern;
Nae ane o' them ever has crossed before
An' never a ane'll return.
Heavy it rides sae full, sae full,
Deep, deep is the River,
But light, light is the backward pull,
The River flows silently on.

A cargo o' corps that are cauld I trow--
They're grippy that grudge the fare--
An' the antrin quick wi' his golden bough
That's swappin' the Here for There.
Heavy it rides sae full, sae full,
Slow, slow is the River,
But light, light is the backward pull,
The River flows silently on.

In vain will they look wha seek for a ford,
Where the reeds grow lank an' lang:
This is the ferry, an' I am the lord
An' king o' the boat an' stang.
Heavy it rides sae full, sae full,
Black, black is the River,
But light, light is the backward pull.
The River, my River, flows on.

*VIRGIL IN SCOTS*

AENEID, BOOK III, 588-640

Neist mornin' at the skreek o' day
The mist had newlins lifted;
The sky, a whylock syne sae grey,
To fleckit red had shifted:
When suddenly our herts gaed thud
To see a fremt chiel stalkin',
Wi' timorous steps fae out the wud,
As fleyed-like as a mawkin.
Lod! sic a sicht, half hid in glaur,
It made us a' feel wae, man;
His hams were thin, his kyte was waur,
It hung sae toom that day, man.
His mattit beard was lang an' roch 's
Gin it had ne'er been shorn;
His kilt could barely fend his houghs
Fae stobs, it was sae torn.
A Greek was he, wha short afore
At Troy was in the brulzie,
An' tho' a halflin then, he bore
A man's pairt in the tulzie.
As soon's he spied our Trojan graith
He nearhan' swarfed wi' fear;
But maisterin' his dread o' skaith
At last he ventured near.
"I charge you by the stars," he cried,
"And by the powers on high,
To snatch me hence, nor lat me bide
At Cyclops' hands to die.
I'll no deny that I'm a Greek,
Or that I was at Troy;
Nor yet to hide the part, I'll seek,
That I took in the ploy.
Sae gin ye judge my fau't sae sair
That grace ye daurna gie,
Tear me to bits, fient haet I care,
And sink me in the sea.
I'll meet my death without a wird,
If dealt by men like these,"
He said: syne flang him on the yirds
An' glammoched at our knees,
Wi' kindly mint we stilled his fear,
Enquired his name an' clan,
An' what fell bluffert blew him here
Wi' sic a hertless flan.
To set him further at his ease
Anchises gae him 's han',
An' heartened by our kindliness
The chiel at last began:
"My name is Achaemenides,
An' Ithaca my land;
An' some ooks syne I crossed the seas
Wi' poor Ulysses' band.
Oh, why left ever I my hame?
I'd troubles there enew;
My comrades left me, to their shame,
When fae Cyclops they flew.
Cyclops himsel', wha can describe?
The stars are ells below him;
Gude send we ne'er may hae to bide
Within a parish o' him.
His dungeon large, a hauddin' fit
For sic an awsome gleed;
There at his fae's dregies he'll sit
And spairge aboot their bleed.
Wi' horrid scouk he frowns on a'
An' heedless o' their skraichs,
He sweels their monyfaulds awa'
Wi' wauchts fae gory quaichs.
I saw him, sirs, as sure's I live,
Ance as he lay at easedom,
Twa buirdly chiels tak' in his neive,
Syne careless fae him heeze them.
They fell wi' sic a dreadfu' thud,
Whaur stanes lay roun' in cairns;
The causey ran wi' thickened blood
Like stoorum made wi' harns.
I watched him tak' their limbs an' cram
Them ower his weel-raxed thrapple;
The life scarce left the quivering ham
That shivered in his grapple.
But never was Ulysses slack
To pay where he was awin',
An' starkly did he gie him 't back,
An' bravely cleared the lawin'.
For while the hoven monster snored,
An' rifted in his dreams,
We first the great God's help implored
An' blessing on our schemes;
The kavils cuist: a feerious thrang
Syne gaithered roond aboot,
An' wi' a sturdy pointed stang
We bored his ae e'e oot."

*HORACE IN SCOTS*

Ye needna speer, Catriona, nae spaewife yet could tell
Hoo short or lang for you an' me the tack o' life will rin,
We'll better jist dree oot the span as we hae dane the ell,
Content gin mony towmonds still we're left to store the kin,
Or this the last we'll see the rocks tashed wi' the weary seas;
Hae sense an' set the greybeard oot; wi' life sae short for a'
They're daft that plan ae ook ahead; Time keeks asklent an'
flees
E'en as we crack; the nicht is oors, the morn may never daw.

*HORACE IN SCOTS*

_Persicos odi_

Foreign fashions, lad, allure you
Hamespun happit I would be;
Bring nae mair, for I assure you
Ferlies only scunner me.

Fancy tartans, clanless, gaudy,
Mention them nae mair, I say;
Best it suits your service, laddie,
An' my drinkin', hodden-grey.

*HORACE IN SCOTS*

Tempt not the far oonchancie main,
Nor fearin' blufferts, frien',
Creep roon' fause headlan's; haud your ain
Tack fair atween.

The gowden mids, wha aims at it
Will shun the tinker's lair,
Nor gantin' in a castle sit
Whaur flunkeys stare.

The heichest fir storms aft'nest bow;
Lums fa' wi' sairest dunt;
When lightnings rive, bauld Morven's pow
Drees aye the brunt.

Come weel, come wae, wi' hope or fear
Prepare your heart for a';
The same Power sends the rain will clear
The cloods awa'.

Tho' here the day ye've waes galore
The morn may see them gone;
Fate whiles lays by the dour claymore
An' tunes the drone.

In trouble bauldly bear yoursel';
When thrivin', mind the fret--
"Tho' lang the pig gangs to the well,
Its ae day's set."

*HORACE IN SCOTS*

HAIRRY

"When Leebie lo'ed me ower them a',
An' deil a dearer daured to fling
An airm aboot her neck o' snaw,
I struttit crouser than the king."

LEEBIE

"When I was Hairry's only care,
Afore he lo'ed me less than Jean,
Wha spak' o' love at kirk or fail--
Set Leebie aye aboon the queen."

HAIRRY

"Noo Hielan' Jean has witched me sae,
She harps an' sings wi' siccan skill,
Cauld Death can streek me on the strae
Gin he but spare my marrow still."

LEEBIE

"For Colin dear, my heart's alowe
As his for me, Glen Nochty's heir,
Fate twice at me may shak' his pow
Gin he will still my laddie spare."

HAIRRY

"Gin tinker Love wi' clinks o' brass
Bind baith oor hearts, an' I forget
Red-headit Jean, an' you my lass--
Lang left--again see wide the yett?"

LEEBIE

"Tho' steady as a starn is he,
An' you're like bobbin' cork, it's true,
Wi' temper grumlie as the sea,
I'd love an' live an' dee wi' you."

*HORACE IN SCOTS*

Kirsty, ye besom! auld an' grey,
Peer Sandy's wrunkled kimmer,
Death's at your elbuck, cease to play
Baith hame an' furth the limmer.

Ongauns like yours lads weel may fleg
Fae lasses a' thegither;
Tibbie may fling a wanton leg
Would ill set you her mither.

She Anra's bothy sneck may tirl
An' loup like ony filly;
Love stirs her as the pipers' skirl
Some kiltit Hielan' billie.

Nane pledge or bring you posies noo;
Auld wives nae trumps set strummin',
For runts like you the Cabrach woo'--
It's time your wheel was bummin'.

*HORACE IN SCOTS*

Life an' love I'm by wi' a',
Tho' I've had cause o' baith to brag;
Hang dirk an' chanter on the wa',
Nae mair I'll reive or squeeze the bag.

Whaur on the left my lantren gleams
Weel gairdit by the sea-born queen,
I lay my love an' war worn leems,
Hae mony a midnicht tulzie seen.

O Venus, fae your island fair
Wi' snawless mountains, hear an' help,
Rax back your rung, an' ance--nae mair--
Gie saucy Meg a canny skelp.

*HORACE IN SCOTS*

Happy is he, far fae the toon's alairm
Wha wons contentit on his forbears' fairm;
Whistlin' ahint his owsen at the ploo,
Oonfashed wi' siller lent or int'rest due.
Nae sodger he, that's piped to wark an' meat,
Nae bar'fit sailor, fleyed at wind an' weet,
Schoolboard nor Session tempt him fae his hame,
Provost or Baillie never heard his name;
His business 'tis to sned the larick trees
For lichened hag to stake his early peas,
Or on his plaid amang the braes to lie
Herdin' his sleekit stots an' hummel kye,
Here wi' his whittle nick a sooker saft,
There mark a stooter shank for future graft;
Whiles fae a skep a dreepin' comb he steals,
Or clips the doddit yowes for winter wheels.
When ower the crafts blythe Autumn lifts her head
Buskit wi' aipples ripe an' roddens red,
He speels the trees the hazel nits to pu',
An' rasps an' aivrins fill his bonnet fu',--
Fit gifts awat, for gods o' wood an' yaird
To show the gratefu' husbandman's regaird.
Ah, then 'tis pleasant on saft mossy banks
'Neath auncient aiks to ease his wearied shanks,
Whaur hidden burnies rumblin' onwards row,
An' liltin' linties cheer the peacefu' howe,
An' babblin' springs, as thro' the ferns they creep
Wi' ceaseless croonin' lull to gentle sleep.
When stormy winter comes an' in its train
Brings drivin' drift an' spates o' plashin' rain,
Wi' dog an' ferret then he's roon' the parks
Whaur rabbits in the snaw hae left their marks;
Or brings wi' smorin' sulphur thuddin' doon
The roostin' pheasant fae the boughs aboon,
Or daunders furth wi' girn an' gun to kill
White hares an' ptarmigan upon the hill.
Wha mid sic joys would ever stop to fash
Wi' trystin' queyns, their valinteens an' trash?
But gin a sonsy wife be his, she'll help
Wi' household jots, the weans she'll dead an' skelp,
An'--Buchan kimmers ken the way fu' weel
Or Hielan' hizzies--tenty toom the creel
O' lang hained heath'ry truffs to reist the fire
Against her man's return, fair dead wi' tire,
An' byre-ward clatter in her creeshie brogues
To fill wi' foamin' milk the scrubbit cogues,
Syne fae the press the cakes an' kebbuck draw
An' hame-brewed drink nae gauger ever saw--
Plain simple fare; could partans better please
Or skate or turbot fae the furthest seas,
Brocht to the market by the trawler's airt
Hawkit fae barrows or the cadger's cairt?
Nae frozen dainties, nae importit meat,
Nae foreign galshochs, taste they e'er sae sweet,
But I will match them fast as ye can name
Wi' simple berries that we grow at hame--
Wi' burnside soorocks that ye pu' yoursel',
Wi' buttered brose, an' chappit curly kail,
Wi' mealy puddins fae the new killed Mart,
Or hill-fed braxy that the tod has spar'd.
What happier life than this for young or auld?
To see the blackfaced wethers seek the fauld,
The reekin' owsen fae the fur' set free
Wear slowly hamewith ower the gowan'd lea,
An' gabbin' servants fae the field an' byre
Scorchin' their moleskins at the kitchen fire.

_The banker swore 'mid siccan scenes to die,_
_"Back to the land" was daily his refrain;_
_A fortnicht syne he laid his ledgers by,_
_The nicht he's castin' his accoonts again!_

*THE REMONSTRANCE*

Noo man, hoo can ye think it richt
To waste your time, nicht after nicht,
An' hunker in the failin' licht
Wi' moody broo,
Like some puir dwinin' thewless wicht
Wi' death in view?

I've taul' ye aft aneuch it's nae
As if ye'd aught 'at's new to say,
Or said auld things some better way,
Or like some callants
Gat fouk to praise your sangs an' pay
Ye for your ballants.

Instead o' vreetin' like a clerk
Till bed-time brings alang the dark,
Ye should be sportin' in the park
An' hear the clamour
Wad greet ye, should ye pass my mark
Wi' stane or hammer.

Or tak' a daunder roon' the braes
An' hear the blackies pipe their lays,
The liftward laverock's sang o' praise,
An' syne, my billie,
Mak' nae mair verses a' your days--
Shut doon your millie.

*THE REPLY*

Tho' loud the mavis whistles now
An' blackbirds pipe fae ilka bough
An' laverocks set the heart alowe--
Mid a' the plenty
You'd miss upon the wayside cowe
The twitt'rin' lintie.

An' think you, when the simmer's gane,
When sleet blaws thro' the leafless plane,
An' bieldless birds sit mute an' lane,
The woods a' cheerless,
The namely robin on the stane
Sings sweet an' fearless.

So tho' my sangs be as you say
Nae marrow for the blackbird's lay,
They may hae cheered somebody's way
Wha wanted better,
An' sent him happier up the brae
My welcome debtor.

Nae care hae I, nor wish to speel
Parnassus' knowe, for mony a chiel
Has tint his time, his life as weel,
To claim a bit o't:
I only crave a wee bit biel'
Near han' the fit o't.

*SCOTLAND OUR MITHER*

Scotland our Mither--this from your sons abroad,
Leavin' tracks on virgin veld that never kent a road,
Trekkin' on wi' weary feet, an' faces turned fae hame,
But lovin' aye the auld wife across the seas the same.

Scotland our Mither--we left your bieldy bents
To hunt wi' hairy Esau, while Jacob kept the tents.
We've pree'd the pangs o' hunger, mair sorrow seen than mirth,
But never niffer'd, auld wife, our rightfu' pride o' birth.

Scotland our Mither--we sow, we plant, we till,
But plagues that passed o'er Egypt light here an' work their
will.
They've harried barn an' basket till ruin claims us sure;
We'd better kept the auld craft an' herdit on the muir.

Scotland our Mither--we weary whiles and tire;
When Bad Luck helps to outspan, Regret biggs up the fire;
But still the hope uphaulds us, tho' bitter now the blast,
That we'll win to the auld hame across the seas at last.

Scotland our Mither--we've bairns you've never seen--
Wee things that turn them northward when they kneel down at
e'en;
They plead in childish whispers the Lord on high will be
A comfort to the auld wife--their granny o'er the sea.

Scotland our Mither--since first we left your side,
From Quilimane to Cape Town we've wandered far an' wide;
Yet aye from mining camp an' town, from koppie an' karoo,
Your sons richt kindly, auld wife, send hame their love to you.

*GLOSSARY*

_Ablach_--insignificant person. _Aivrins_--cloudberry. _Ajee_--to one side. _Antrin_--occasional. _Arles_--earnest given in striking a bargain. _Asklent_--askance. _Awat_--I wot. _Awin'_--owing.

_Baillie_--alderman; _baillie_ (_water_)--bailiff; _baillie_ (_in the byre_)--cattle-man. _Ballants_--ballads. _Bane_--bone. _Banster_--one who binds the sheaves. _Barkit_--encrusted with dirt. _Bauldrins_--cat. _Bawd_--hare. _Beet to_--had to. _Beets_--boots. _Begood_--began. _Bents_--hilly ground on which coarse grass grows. _Besom shaft_--broom handle. _Bield_--shelter. _Biggin'_--building. _Bike_--hive. _Birk_--birch. _Birlin'_--whirring. _Birn_--burden. _Birr_--whirr. _Birse_--bristles. _Birselt, birslin'_--scorched, scorching. _Bishop_--to beat down earth or stones. _Blate_--bashful. _Bluffert_--blast of wind. _Bonnet-laird_--yeoman. _Bool_--bowl, marble. _Boss_--hollow. _Bothy_--cottage where farm servants are lodged. _Bourtree_--elder. _Braxy_--sheep that has died a natural death. _Break_--hollow in a hill. _Breet_--brute. _Brochan_--oatmeal boiled thicker than gruel. _Brulzie_--brawl. _"Buchan"_--Buchan's "Domestic Medicine." _Buirdly_--stalwart. _But-an'-ben_--cottage divided into two apartments. _Byous_--exceedingly, out of the common.

_Cadger_--hawker. _Caird_--travelling tinker. _Cairtin'_--playing cards. _Caller_--cool, refreshing. _Cannas_---canvas. _Canny_--safe, prudent, judicious. _Cantrip_--mischievous trick. _Carlie_--little old man. _Cauldrife_--causing the sensation of cold. _Caup_--turned wooden bowl. _Cauper_--maker of caups, wood-turner. _Caur_--calves. _Causey_--causeway. _Caw_--to drive. _Chappin'_--knocking. _Chappit_--struck (the clock "chappit"); _chappit kail_--mashed or bruised colewort. _Chaumers_--chambers. _Clachan_--hamlet. _Claik_--gossip. _Clash_--gossip. _Clawed the caup_--cleaned the dish. As a punishment the person last to get up in the morning had to clean the common bowl. _Cleadin'_--clothing. _Cleekit shalt_--pony suffering from string-halt. _Clinkin'_--mending by rivetting. _Clockin'_--brooding. _Clorty_--dirty, sticky. _Closs_--enclosure, passage. _Cloutie_--small cloth. _Clouts_--mends, patches. _Cogue_--wooden milking pail. _Connached_--abused, wasted, destroyed. _Coof_--coward. _Core_--company, corps. _Corp_--corpse. _Coup_--to exchange. _Couthy_--affable, kindly. _Covin-tree_--trysting-tree, large tree in front of the mansion house where visitors were received. _Cowe_--twig of a shrub or bush. _Cowshus_--cautious. _Cowt_--colt. _Crack_--to chat. _Craft_--small farm. _Craggins_--jars. _Creel_--basket. _Creepie_--low stool. _Creesh_--fat, grease. _Crouse_--brisk, lively, bold. _Crowdy_--meal and water mixed cold. _Cruisie_--ancient oil lamp. _Cuisy_--cast, threw. _Cuitikins_--gaiters. _Cushie doo_--wood pigeon.

_Dambrod_--draught board. _Daundrin'_--strolling. _Daw_--dawn. _Dibble_--to plant in a small hole. _Dicht_--to clean, to wipe up. _Ding_--to overcome, to excel. _Dirl_--tingle. _Dirlin'_--vibrating. _Displenish_--to disfurnish, sale of furniture of any sort. _Divot_--turf. _Doddit_--without horns. _Doit_--a small copper coin. _Dool_--woe. _Dozin_--in a benumbed state. _Dreep_--drip, empty to the last drop. _Dregie_--refreshment given at a funeral. _Drift_--driving or driven snow. _Drooth_--drought, thirst. _Dryster_--man who dries the grain before grinding. _Dubs, dubby_--mud, muddy. _Dunt_--bang, sound caused by the fall of a hard body. _Dwinin'_--pining.

_Easin'_--eaves. _Eident_--diligent. _Eild_--old age. _Elbuck_--elbow. _Ell-wan'_--yardstick. _Elshin_--shoemaker's awl. _Ettlin'_--aiming. _Excamb_--to exchange one piece of ground for another.

_Fa'_--fall, fate (black be his fa'). _Fae_--from. _Faes_--foes. _Faugh_--fallow land, "Farmers faugh gars lairds lauch"--old Scottish proverb. _Fauld_--fold. _Faured_--favoured. _Feal dyke_--wall built of sods. _Fell_--kill, deadly. _Ferlie_--oddity, wonder. _Fiars_--prices of grain legally fixed for the year. _Fient, fient haet_--not a bit, the Devil a bit. _Fiersday_--Thursday. _Firehoose_--dwelling house. _Firry_--resinous. _Fittit_--footed. _Flaffin'_--flapping. _Flan_--gust of wind. _Flate_--scolded. _Fleech_--flatter. _Fleems_--fleam, lancet. _Fleerish, flint and_--flint and steel. _Fleg_--frighten. _Fleyed_--frightened. _Flyte_--scold. _Forenicht_--interval between twilight and bedtime. _Forfochen_--exhausted. _Fou_--stone crop, saxifrage. _Fremt_--strange, foreign. _Fret_--superstition. _Futt'rat_--weasel. _Fyou_--few.

_Gaberlunzie_--beggar. _Gale_--gable. _Galshochs_--kickshaws. _Gangrel_--wanderer. _Gantin'_--yawning. _Gean_--cherry. _Gey, gey often_--considerably, pretty often. _Girn_--snare. _Girnal_--meal chest. _Girse_--grass. _Gizzened_--parched. _Glammoch_--eager grasp. _Glaur_--mire. _Gled, gleed_--kite. _Goupin'_--staring. _Graith_--accoutrements, harness. _Grat, greetin'_--cried, crying. _Grauvit_--cravat. _Grease_--disease affecting horses' legs. _Greybeard_--earthenware bottle. _Grieve_--farm overseer. _Grippy_--stingy. _Grumlie_--grumbling. _Guff_--smell. _"Gweed words"_--prayers.

_Hacks_--chaps, the effect of severe cold. _Hag_--lesser branches of trees. _Hained_--saved, not wasted. _Halflin_--half-grown man. _Hame-drauchted_--selfish, greedy. _Hamewith_--homewards. _Hanks_--skeins. _Hantle_--much. _Happit_--covered. _Harlin'_--rough casting. _Harns_--brains. _Harp_ (_a mason's_)--wire screen for cleaning sand or gravel. _Hauddin'_--holding, house. _Haugh_--alluvial ground beside a river. _Hauld_--stronghold. _Heeze_--heave. _Hine awa'_--far away. _Hingin'_--hanging. _Hint o' Hairst_--end of harvest. _Hoast_--cough. _Hod_--hid. _Hodden grey_--cloth the natural colour of the wool. _Horn-en'_--best room in a two-roomed cottage. _Houkin'_--digging. _Hoven_--swollen, blown out. _Howe_--hollow, valley. _Hummel_--without horns. _Hunker_--to squat down.

_Income_--ailment the cause of which is unknown.

_Jaud_--jade. _Jot_--job, occasional work. _Jow_--toll of a bell.

_Kail_--colewort. _Kavils_--lots. _Kebbuck_--cheese. _Keel_--ruddle, chalk. _Kimmer_--wife. _Kintra_--country. _Kirn_--churn. _Kist_--box, coffin. _Kittyneddie_--sandpiper. _Kye_--cows. _Kyte_--belly.

_Lade_--mill race. _Laich_--low. _Lair_--burying plot, bed. _Laith_--loth. _Lampin'_--taking long steps. _Lane_--alone; _his lane_, by himself. _Lapbuird_--lapboard. _Lapstane_--stone on which a shoe-maker beats his leather. _Larick_--larch. _Lave_--the rest, the remainder. _Lay_ (_turning_)--lathe. _Leefu' lane_--all alone. _Leems_--implements. _Lettergae_--one who gives out the line, the precentor. _Lettrin_--precentor's desk. _Leuch_--laughed. _Liftward_--skywards. _Limmer_--worthless woman. _Lint-pot_--pool where lint is washed. _Lippens_--entrusts. _Loan, loanin'_--piece of uncultivated land about a homestead. _Loupin'_--leaping. _Lowse_--make loose. _Lozen_--pane of glass. _Lum_--chimney. _Lythe_---shelter, lea side.

_Marrow_--match, equal. _Mart_--ox killed at Martinmas for winter use. _Mawkin_--hare. _Mear_--mare. _Mint_--aim, intention. _Mirk_--darkness. _Mith_--might. _Muggins_--boot hose. _Monyfaulds_--entrails, the part which consists of many folds. _Moss_--moor where peats are dug. _Mou'_--mouth. _Moulter_--multure. _Mouter_--multure, miller's fee. _Mull, snuff mull_--box, snuff box. _Mutch_--head-dress for a woman. _Mutchkin_--liquid measure.

_Nearhan'_--nearly. _Neeps_--turnips. _Neive_--fist. _Newlins_--newly. _Nick_--notch. _Nickum_--mischievous boy. _Niffer_--to barter. _Nott_--needed, required. _Nowt_--nolt, neat cattle.

_O'ercome_--burden. _Oes_--grand-children. _Ongauns_--goings-on. _Ooks, ouks_--weeks. _Oonchancie_--uncanny. _Oonfashed_--untroubled, _Oxter_--arm-pit.

_Panged_--crammed. _Partan_--common sea crab. _Pass_--passage. _Pech_--to pant, to labour in breathing. _Peer_--match, equal. _Peerman_--holder for fir candle. _Pig_--pitcher. _Pirn_--reel. _Plisky_--mischievous trick. _Ploy_--frolic. _Pock_--bag. _Pooch_--to pocket. _Pow_--poll, head. _Pree'd_--tasted. _Preen_--pin. _Prob_--to pierce. _Puckle_--small quantity.

_Quaich_--drinking cup with two handles. _Queel_--to cool. _Queet_--ankle. _Quern_--stone hand-mill. _Queyn_--quean, young woman. _Quirky_--tricky.

_Rant_--quick lively tune. _Rantree_--rowan tree, mountain ash. _Rape_--rope, especially one made of straw. _Rax_--to stretch. _Ream_--cream. _Redd up_--to clear up. _Reed_--rood by measurement, _Reek_--smoke. _Reemish_--weighty stroke or blow. _Reeshlin'_--rustling. _Reets_--roots. _Reist_--to bank up a fire. _Rifted_--belched. _Riggin'_--ridge, roof. _Roch_--rough. _Rockins_--evening gatherings for work and gossip. _Roddens_--rowans. _Roup_--sale by auction. _Roupy_--hoarse. _Routh_--plenty. _Rotund_--rolled, wrapped, _Ruck_--rick, stack. _Ruggin'_--pulling. _Rung_--heavy staff. _Runt_--withered hag.

_St. Sairs_--market in Aberdeenshire. _Sappy_--moist, full of juice. _Saugh_--willow. _Scob_--to put in splints. _Scouk_--evil look. _Scrat_--scratch. _Scrunt_--stunted in growth. _Scunner_--loathing, to disgust. _Seggit_--sagged, sunk down. _Seggs_--yellow flower-de-luce or iris. _Set_--rented. _Seyed_--put through a sieve. _Shaltie_--pony. _Shank_--to knit, knitting. _Shee_--shoe. _Shoon_--shoes. _Shortsome_--amusing, causing the time to seem short. _Shue_--sew. _Siccan_--such. _Sids_--corn husks. _Simmer_--summer. _Sizzons_--seasons. _Skaith_--hurt, injury. _Skeely_--skilful. _Skelp_--stroke, blow. _Skep_--bee hive. _Skirtit_--ran quickly. _Skraich_--screech. _Skreek of day_--dawn. _Slap_--opening, piece broken out. _Slee_--sly. _Slips the timmers_--(metaphor for) dies. _Slock_--to quench thirst. _Smorin'_--smothering. _Snaw-bree_--melted snow. _Sneck_--latch. _Sned_--to cut, to prune. _Snell_--keen, sharp, severe. _Sonsy_--plump. _Sooker_--sucker. _Soorocks_--sorrel. _Sooter_--cobbler. _Sornin'_--obtruding on another for bed and board. _Souff_--to whistle or con over a tune in a low tone. _Soughin'_--sighing, making a low whistling noise. _Souple_--supple. _Spae_--to tell fortunes. _Spairge_--to bespatter by dashing a liquid. _Spate_--flood. _Speel_--to climb. _Speer_--to enquire. _Spring_--tune. _Stachers_--staggers. _Stance_--place, station. _Stang_--long pole; (of a trump), tongue of a Jew's harp. _Starkly_--strongly, bravely. _Starn_--star. _Steed_--stood. _Steek_--stitch. _Steer_--stir, disturb. _Stent_--extent of task. _Stirk_--young bullock. _Stob_--thorn. _Stobbit_--thatched by means of a stob or stake. _Stoitered_--staggered, tottered. _Stookit_--put into shocks. _Stoor_--dust. _Stoorum_--gruel. _Store the kin_--live, keep up the stock. _Stot_--bullock older than a stirk. _Stounds_--aches, acute pains. _Streek_--stretch. _Streen_--yesterday. _Strype_--small rill. _Studdy_--anvil. _Swak_--supple. _Swarfed_--fainted. _Swatch_--sample piece. _Sweel_--swill, to wash away. _Sweer_--lazy. _Swith_--swiftly. _Swither_--hesitate. _Syne_--then, since.

_Tablin'_--top stones on a gable, _Tack_--lease. _Tansies_--ragweed, _Tap_--top. _Tashed_--fatigued. _Ted_--toad, applied to children or young women as a term of endearment. _Teem, toom_--empty. _Tenty_--careful, attentive. _Teuch_--tough. _Teuchat_--lapwing. _Thackit_--thatched. _Thewless_--feeble. _Thiggin'_--to go about receiving supply not in the way of common mendicants, but rather giving others an opportunity of showing their liberality. _Thirled_--bound or enthralled. _Thoom_--thumb, to massage with the thumbs. _Thrang_--throng. _Thrapple_--throat. _Thrave_--two stocks or sheaves. _Thraw_--twist, sprain. _Thrawcruik_--implement for twisting straw ropes. _Threeve_--throve. _Thrums_--ends of yarn; _span her thrums_--purred. _Timmer_--timber. _Tint_--lost. _Tirl_--act of vibrating. _Tirl the sneck_--twirl the handle of the latch. _Tirr_--to strip forcibly. _Tittit the tow_--pulled the bell-rope. _Toom_--empty. _Tocher_--dowry. _Tod_--fox. _Towmond_--twelvemonth. _Trail the rape_--Hallowe'en spell which consisted in dragging a straw rope of peculiar make round the house. _Trams_--shafts, as of a cart. _Trauchled_--draggled. _Travise_--division between stalls. _Troke_--barter. _Truff_--turf. _Trump_--Jew's harp. _Tulzie_--quarrel. _Tweezlock_--another name for thrawcruik. _Tyauve_ (_wi' a_)--with great difficulty.

_Unco_--strange, uncommon.

_Virr_--force, impetuosity. _Vratches_--wretches. _Vreetin'_--writing. _Vricht_--wright.

_Wadset_--to mortgage. _Waled_--chosen. _Waller_--weller, frequenter of St. Ronan's well. _Wardly_--worldly. _Wared_--expended. _Warslin'_--struggling. _Waucht_--large draught _Weet_--wet. _Weird_--fate, destiny. _Whaup_--curlew. _Wheeple_--shrill intermitting note with little variation of tone. _Whip-the-cat_--tailor with no fixed place of business, who goes from house to house. _Whorl_--flywheel of a spindle made of wood or stone. _Whylock_--little while. _Wicks o' mou's_--corners of the mouth. _Winceys_--petticoats made of wincey. _Wiss_--wish. _Wuddy_--gallows. _Wye_--way.

_Yeldrin_--yellow-hammer. _Yett_--gate. _Yill_--ale. _Yird_--earth. _Yokin'_--working period during which horses are in harness. _Youkie_--itchy. _Yowes_--ewes.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY
RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED,
BRUNSWICK STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E.,
AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.