Page:Thrummy cap (1).pdf/4

 4 Upon his legs, he had gamashes,

Which sogers ca' their spatterdashes;

An' on his hands, instead o' glo'es,

Large doddy mittens, whilk he'd roose

For warmness; an' an aiken stick,

Nae very lang, but gey an' thick,

Intil 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 guid scour,

'Cause that they saw a gatherin' show'r

Grow vera 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 and monstrous Boreas roar'd,

"Preserves !" quo John, "we'll baith be smoord,

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' nicht we'll tarry there."

"Weel, weel,” says Johnny, "we sall try.”

Syne they a mansion-house did spy

Upo' the road, a bit afore,

Sae up they gaed unto the door,

Whare Thrummy chappit wi' his stick,

Syne to the door cam vera quick

A muckle dog, wha barkit sair;