Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/186

162 Fin the day lieht wuz deen an' him tired at the wark, O! then he'd set doon to the tun'in' o't An' the young in aboot flockt fin it wuz dark, An' yokit to dince to the soon'in' o't. They dinct and they jumpit till their legs they got sair, An' it growin' late they hamewards repair, An' thankt the aul' carl for biggin's cot there, An' aye blesst the day o' the foon'in' o't. For ance on yon hull-side grew heather an' trees; The auld folk'll min' o' the plantin' o't. An' in simmer it wuz swarmin' wi' birds an' wi' bees. Which cheert his auld heart wi' the drintin' o't. In the gloamin' the lads an' the lasses wud meet: The whisperin' wuz fond, an' the kisses were sweet. An' they leuch at the thing 'at wud weel gar'd them greet. An' ne'er brak their heart wi' the thinkin' o't. Bit noo there is naething bit scrabs to be seen, The trees they're a' sawn for the wrichtin' o't. Bit a' the tree roots they stuck fast to the green. They gied him a sair back wi' the liftin' o't. Sud the carl trincht a' he'll get muckle sweat wi't: Ere he get it a' sawn, sud he e'er live to see't. He'll hae twa simmer's suns yet an' ae winter's weet. Afore he get wark wi' the dichtin' o't. Bit may he yet live for to see it a' growin'. An' a' stan'in' ready for reapin' o't. Wi' twa breed-backit doddies to low i' the loan; There's naething sae gweed for the weetin' o't! An' may he ne'er wint fat his auld heart can tak— A snufF till his nose an' a coat till his back, An' an auld neeper cronie an hour wi'm to crack, An' len' him a han' wi' the eatin' o't.

Though the words are almost all English, their vocalisation is significant and local:—