Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/110

86 variety of concrete expression. We have every grade of quantity among a humble folk, considerate of small things, in the series—a tait, a curn, a stime, a bittock, a hantle, a wheen, a feck, while nothing can be more comprehensive than "the hale-apothick." This last is either a surprising use of the Greek apothēkē, a granary, storehouse, or is based on the farmer's familiarity with the law of hypothec. Nor were such harmless affsets to conversation awanting as Losh peetie me! My certie! My san! Sal! Goavie-dick! A low comedian, Pillans, prime favourite with Edinburgh audiences in the sixties, used the last cryptic expression with great effect. Apropos of a favourite expletive, there is a good story in the life of the Erskines. Before the Mound in Edinburgh assumed its present elegant appearance it was a rough embankment called the Mud Brig, and a favourite place for caravans and wild-beast shows. Lord Hermand, taking this as the usual route between the Parliament House and the New Town, was so excited over the news he had just heard of the defeat of the Ministry of All the Talents that he kept on muttering to himself, "They're a' oot, by the Lord Hairry! They're a' oot!" A good woman, hearing him and thinking only of the wild beasts, flung herself into his arms, saying, "Oh! save me and then my bairns."

This comparative list shows how difficult it is to do justice in English to a group of graphic descriptive epithets:—