Page:Watty and May, or, The wife reclaimed.pdf/12

12 DONALD AND HIS DOG;

R, THE ROBBER OUTWITTED.

Between twa hills that tow’rd up to the clouds, Clad owre wi’ heather, bent, and woods ; ‘Mang steeps, and rocks, and waters fallin’. Was Highland Donald’s humble dwallin’, Aroun’ his hut, beneath his eye, Fed ’bout a score o’ stirks and kye ; Whilk, wi’ his wife and family, were His pleasure, and peculiar care. Amang sic barren heights and kowes, Where grain, for food, but scanty grows, His family were but sparely fed ; Right coarse and barely were they clad. Yet he was wi’ his lot content, Except when pinched to pay his rent. Indeed, he wi’ his laird for years, Had ’gainst his will been in arrears, For whilk he had to thole the snarl, And threats o’ the tyrannic carl. Till Donald’s independant spirit, Nae langer was resolved to bear it; And dangers was resolved to scorn, Either to make a spoon, or spoil a horn. He shrewd and clever was I trew, Spoke Gaelic weel: and Lawlan’ too ; And as he was an honest chiel, By a’ his neighbours liket weel, Ae night, contriving what to do, To keep himsel’ aboon the broo, A plan he moddled in his head, And thus it down before them laid ; In twa weeks hence, in England, there Would be a great black-cattle fair. Whar kye, he learned frae men o’ dealin’s Gae double price, gi’en in the Highlands’ Now, if wi’ what he could himsel’ Spare safely frae his flock to sell, They would mak’ up a drove amang them, He pledged his word he wouldna’ wrang them ; But render at his coming back.