Page:Thrummy cap, a tale (2).pdf/4

 For warmness; an' an aiken stick

Nae vera lang, but gay an' thick,

Intil his his neive; he drove awa,

An' car'd for neither frost nor sna'.

The tither was just the reverse,

O' claise an' courage baith was scarce;

Sae in our tale as we go on,

I think we'll ca' him Cow'rdly John,

As he that spirit aft did show,

As in the sequel you will know

Sae on they gaed at a good scour,

'Cause that they saw a gatherin' show'r

Grow very thick upo' the wind,

Whilk to their wae they soon did find

An awfu' show'r o' sna' and drift,

As ever dang down frae the lift;

Right wild an' monstrous Boreas roar'd.

Preserves! quo' John, we'll baith be smoor'd

Our tryst's end we can ne'er mak out

Cheer up, quo' Thrummy, never doubt,

But I'm some fley'd we've tint our way,

Howe'er at the neist house we'll stay

Until we see gin it grows fair;

Gin no, a' night we'll tarry there.