Part 4

So tho' my sangs be as you say Nae marrow for the blackbird's lay, They may hae cheered somebody's way Wha wanted better, An' sent him happier up the brae My welcome debtor.

Nae care hae I, nor wish to speel Parnassus' knowe, for mony a chiel Has tint his time, his life as weel, To claim a bit o't: I only crave a wee bit biel' Near han' the fit o't.

*SCOTLAND OUR MITHER*

Scotland our Mither--this from your sons abroad, Leavin' tracks on virgin veld that never kent a road, Trekkin' on wi' weary feet, an' faces turned fae hame, But lovin' aye the auld wife across the seas the same.

Scotland our Mither--we left your bieldy bents To hunt wi' hairy Esau, while Jacob kept the tents. We've pree'd the pangs o' hunger, mair sorrow seen than mirth, But never niffer'd, auld wife, our rightfu' pride o' birth.

Scotland our Mither--we sow, we plant, we till, But plagues that passed o'er Egypt light here an' work their will. They've harried barn an' basket till ruin claims us sure; We'd better kept the auld craft an' herdit on the muir.

Scotland our Mither--we weary whiles and tire; When Bad Luck helps to outspan, Regret biggs up the fire; But still the hope uphaulds us, tho' bitter now the blast, That we'll win to the auld hame across the seas at last.

Scotland our Mither--we've bairns you've never seen-- Wee things that turn them northward when they kneel down at e'en; They plead in childish whispers the Lord on high will be A comfort to the auld wife--their granny o'er the sea.

Scotland our Mither--since first we left your side, From Quilimane to Cape Town we've wandered far an' wide; Yet aye from mining camp an' town, from koppie an' karoo, Your sons richt kindly, auld wife, send hame their love to you.

*GLOSSARY*

_Ablach_--insignificant person. _Aivrins_--cloudberry. _Ajee_--to one side. _Antrin_--occasional. _Arles_--earnest given in striking a bargain. _Asklent_--askance. _Awat_--I wot. _Awin'_--owing.

_Baillie_--alderman; _baillie_ (_water_)--bailiff; _baillie_ (_in the byre_)--cattle-man. _Ballants_--ballads. _Bane_--bone. _Banster_--one who binds the sheaves. _Barkit_--encrusted with dirt. _Bauldrins_--cat. _Bawd_--hare. _Beet to_--had to. _Beets_--boots. _Begood_--began. _Bents_--hilly ground on which coarse grass grows. _Besom shaft_--broom handle. _Bield_--shelter. _Biggin'_--building. _Bike_--hive. _Birk_--birch. _Birlin'_--whirring. _Birn_--burden. _Birr_--whirr. _Birse_--bristles. _Birselt, birslin'_--scorched, scorching. _Bishop_--to beat down earth or stones. _Blate_--bashful. _Bluffert_--blast of wind. _Bonnet-laird_--yeoman. _Bool_--bowl, marble. _Boss_--hollow. _Bothy_--cottage where farm servants are lodged. _Bourtree_--elder. _Braxy_--sheep that has died a natural death. _Break_--hollow in a hill. _Breet_--brute. _Brochan_--oatmeal boiled thicker than gruel. _Brulzie_--brawl. _"Buchan"_--Buchan's "Domestic Medicine." _Buirdly_--stalwart. _But-an'-ben_--cottage divided into two apartments. _Byous_--exceedingly, out of the common.

_Cadger_--hawker. _Caird_--travelling tinker. _Cairtin'_--playing cards. _Caller_--cool, refreshing. _Cannas_---canvas. _Canny_--safe, prudent, judicious. _Cantrip_--mischievous trick. _Carlie_--little old man. _Cauldrife_--causing the sensation of cold. _Caup_--turned wooden bowl. _Cauper_--maker of caups, wood-turner. _Caur_--calves. _Causey_--causeway. _Caw_--to drive. _Chappin'_--knocking. _Chappit_--struck (the clock "chappit"); _chappit kail_--mashed or bruised colewort. _Chaumers_--chambers. _Clachan_--hamlet. _Claik_--gossip. _Clash_--gossip. _Clawed the caup_--cleaned the dish. As a punishment the person last to get up in the morning had to clean the common bowl. _Cleadin'_--clothing. _Cleekit shalt_--pony suffering from string-halt. _Clinkin'_--mending by rivetting. _Clockin'_--brooding. _Clorty_--dirty, sticky. _Closs_--enclosure, passage. _Cloutie_--small cloth. _Clouts_--mends, patches. _Cogue_--wooden milking pail. _Connached_--abused, wasted, destroyed. _Coof_--coward. _Core_--company, corps. _Corp_--corpse. _Coup_--to exchange. _Couthy_--affable, kindly. _Covin-tree_--trysting-tree, large tree in front of the mansion house where visitors were received. _Cowe_--twig of a shrub or bush. _Cowshus_--cautious. _Cowt_--colt. _Crack_--to chat. _Craft_--small farm. _Craggins_--jars. _Creel_--basket. _Creepie_--low stool. _Creesh_--fat, grease. _Crouse_--brisk, lively, bold. _Crowdy_--meal and water mixed cold. _Cruisie_--ancient oil lamp. _Cuisy_--cast, threw. _Cuitikins_--gaiters. _Cushie doo_--wood pigeon.

_Dambrod_--draught board. _Daundrin'_--strolling. _Daw_--dawn. _Dibble_--to plant in a small hole. _Dicht_--to clean, to wipe up. _Ding_--to overcome, to excel. _Dirl_--tingle. _Dirlin'_--vibrating. _Displenish_--to disfurnish, sale of furniture of any sort. _Divot_--turf. _Doddit_--without horns. _Doit_--a small copper coin. _Dool_--woe. _Dozin_--in a benumbed state. _Dreep_--drip, empty to the last drop. _Dregie_--refreshment given at a funeral. _Drift_--driving or driven snow. _Drooth_--drought, thirst. _Dryster_--man who dries the grain before grinding. _Dubs, dubby_--mud, muddy. _Dunt_--bang, sound caused by the fall of a hard body. _Dwinin'_--pining.

_Easin'_--eaves. _Eident_--diligent. _Eild_--old age. _Elbuck_--elbow. _Ell-wan'_--yardstick. _Elshin_--shoemaker's awl. _Ettlin'_--aiming. _Excamb_--to exchange one piece of ground for another.

_Fa'_--fall, fate (black be his fa'). _Fae_--from. _Faes_--foes. _Faugh_--fallow land, "Farmers faugh gars lairds lauch"--old Scottish proverb. _Fauld_--fold. _Faured_--favoured. _Feal dyke_--wall built of sods. _Fell_--kill, deadly. _Ferlie_--oddity, wonder. _Fiars_--prices of grain legally fixed for the year. _Fient, fient haet_--not a bit, the Devil a bit. _Fiersday_--Thursday. _Firehoose_--dwelling house. _Firry_--resinous. _Fittit_--footed. _Flaffin'_--flapping. _Flan_--gust of wind. _Flate_--scolded. _Fleech_--flatter. _Fleems_--fleam, lancet. _Fleerish, flint and_--flint and steel. _Fleg_--frighten. _Fleyed_--frightened. _Flyte_--scold. _Forenicht_--interval between twilight and bedtime. _Forfochen_--exhausted. _Fou_--stone crop, saxifrage. _Fremt_--strange, foreign. _Fret_--superstition. _Futt'rat_--weasel. _Fyou_--few.

_Gaberlunzie_--beggar. _Gale_--gable. _Galshochs_--kickshaws. _Gangrel_--wanderer. _Gantin'_--yawning. _Gean_--cherry. _Gey, gey often_--considerably, pretty often. _Girn_--snare. _Girnal_--meal chest. _Girse_--grass. _Gizzened_--parched. _Glammoch_--eager grasp. _Glaur_--mire. _Gled, gleed_--kite. _Goupin'_--staring. _Graith_--accoutrements, harness. _Grat, greetin'_--cried, crying. _Grauvit_--cravat. _Grease_--disease affecting horses' legs. _Greybeard_--earthenware bottle. _Grieve_--farm overseer. _Grippy_--stingy. _Grumlie_--grumbling. _Guff_--smell. _"Gweed words"_--prayers.

_Hacks_--chaps, the effect of severe cold. _Hag_--lesser branches of trees. _Hained_--saved, not wasted. _Halflin_--half-grown man. _Hame-drauchted_--selfish, greedy. _Hamewith_--homewards. _Hanks_--skeins. _Hantle_--much. _Happit_--covered. _Harlin'_--rough casting. _Harns_--brains. _Harp_ (_a mason's_)--wire screen for cleaning sand or gravel. _Hauddin'_--holding, house. _Haugh_--alluvial ground beside a river. _Hauld_--stronghold. _Heeze_--heave. _Hine awa'_--far away. _Hingin'_--hanging. _Hint o' Hairst_--end of harvest. _Hoast_--cough. _Hod_--hid. _Hodden grey_--cloth the natural colour of the wool. _Horn-en'_--best room in a two-roomed cottage. _Houkin'_--digging. _Hoven_--swollen, blown out. _Howe_--hollow, valley. _Hummel_--without horns. _Hunker_--to squat down.

_Income_--ailment the cause of which is unknown.

_Jaud_--jade. _Jot_--job, occasional work. _Jow_--toll of a bell.

_Kail_--colewort. _Kavils_--lots. _Kebbuck_--cheese. _Keel_--ruddle, chalk. _Kimmer_--wife. _Kintra_--country. _Kirn_--churn. _Kist_--box, coffin. _Kittyneddie_--sandpiper. _Kye_--cows. _Kyte_--belly.

_Lade_--mill race. _Laich_--low. _Lair_--burying plot, bed. _Laith_--loth. _Lampin'_--taking long steps. _Lane_--alone; _his lane_, by himself. _Lapbuird_--lapboard. _Lapstane_--stone on which a shoe-maker beats his leather. _Larick_--larch. _Lave_--the rest, the remainder. _Lay_ (_turning_)--lathe. _Leefu' lane_--all alone. _Leems_--implements. _Lettergae_--one who gives out the line, the precentor. _Lettrin_--precentor's desk. _Leuch_--laughed. _Liftward_--skywards. _Limmer_--worthless woman. _Lint-pot_--pool where lint is washed. _Lippens_--entrusts. _Loan, loanin'_--piece of uncultivated land about a homestead. _Loupin'_--leaping. _Lowse_--make loose. _Lozen_--pane of glass. _Lum_--chimney. _Lythe_---shelter, lea side.

_Marrow_--match, equal. _Mart_--ox killed at Martinmas for winter use. _Mawkin_--hare. _Mear_--mare. _Mint_--aim, intention. _Mirk_--darkness. _Mith_--might. _Muggins_--boot hose. _Monyfaulds_--entrails, the part which consists of many folds. _Moss_--moor where peats are dug. _Mou'_--mouth. _Moulter_--multure. _Mouter_--multure, miller's fee. _Mull, snuff mull_--box, snuff box. _Mutch_--head-dress for a woman. _Mutchkin_--liquid measure.

_Nearhan'_--nearly. _Neeps_--turnips. _Neive_--fist. _Newlins_--newly. _Nick_--notch. _Nickum_--mischievous boy. _Niffer_--to barter. _Nott_--needed, required. _Nowt_--nolt, neat cattle.

_O'ercome_--burden. _Oes_--grand-children. _Ongauns_--goings-on. _Ooks, ouks_--weeks. _Oonchancie_--uncanny. _Oonfashed_--untroubled, _Oxter_--arm-pit.

_Panged_--crammed. _Partan_--common sea crab. _Pass_--passage. _Pech_--to pant, to labour in breathing. _Peer_--match, equal. _Peerman_--holder for fir candle. _Pig_--pitcher. _Pirn_--reel. _Plisky_--mischievous trick. _Ploy_--frolic. _Pock_--bag. _Pooch_--to pocket. _Pow_--poll, head. _Pree'd_--tasted. _Preen_--pin. _Prob_--to pierce. _Puckle_--small quantity.

_Quaich_--drinking cup with two handles. _Queel_--to cool. _Queet_--ankle. _Quern_--stone hand-mill. _Queyn_--quean, young woman. _Quirky_--tricky.

_Rant_--quick lively tune. _Rantree_--rowan tree, mountain ash. _Rape_--rope, especially one made of straw. _Rax_--to stretch. _Ream_--cream. _Redd up_--to clear up. _Reed_--rood by measurement, _Reek_--smoke. _Reemish_--weighty stroke or blow. _Reeshlin'_--rustling. _Reets_--roots. _Reist_--to bank up a fire. _Rifted_--belched. _Riggin'_--ridge, roof. _Roch_--rough. _Rockins_--evening gatherings for work and gossip. _Roddens_--rowans. _Roup_--sale by auction. _Roupy_--hoarse. _Routh_--plenty. _Rotund_--rolled, wrapped, _Ruck_--rick, stack. _Ruggin'_--pulling. _Rung_--heavy staff. _Runt_--withered hag.

_St. Sairs_--market in Aberdeenshire. _Sappy_--moist, full of juice. _Saugh_--willow. _Scob_--to put in splints. _Scouk_--evil look. _Scrat_--scratch. _Scrunt_--stunted in growth. _Scunner_--loathing, to disgust. _Seggit_--sagged, sunk down. _Seggs_--yellow flower-de-luce or iris. _Set_--rented. _Seyed_--put through a sieve. _Shaltie_--pony. _Shank_--to knit, knitting. _Shee_--shoe. _Shoon_--shoes. _Shortsome_--amusing, causing the time to seem short. _Shue_--sew. _Siccan_--such. _Sids_--corn husks. _Simmer_--summer. _Sizzons_--seasons. _Skaith_--hurt, injury. _Skeely_--skilful. _Skelp_--stroke, blow. _Skep_--bee hive. _Skirtit_--ran quickly. _Skraich_--screech. _Skreek of day_--dawn. _Slap_--opening, piece broken out. _Slee_--sly. _Slips the timmers_--(metaphor for) dies. _Slock_--to quench thirst. _Smorin'_--smothering. _Snaw-bree_--melted snow. _Sneck_--latch. _Sned_--to cut, to prune. _Snell_--keen, sharp, severe. _Sonsy_--plump. _Sooker_--sucker. _Soorocks_--sorrel. _Sooter_--cobbler. _Sornin'_--obtruding on another for bed and board. _Souff_--to whistle or con over a tune in a low tone. _Soughin'_--sighing, making a low whistling noise. _Souple_--supple. _Spae_--to tell fortunes. _Spairge_--to bespatter by dashing a liquid. _Spate_--flood. _Speel_--to climb. _Speer_--to enquire. _Spring_--tune. _Stachers_--staggers. _Stance_--place, station. _Stang_--long pole; (of a trump), tongue of a Jew's harp. _Starkly_--strongly, bravely. _Starn_--star. _Steed_--stood. _Steek_--stitch. _Steer_--stir, disturb. _Stent_--extent of task. _Stirk_--young bullock. _Stob_--thorn. _Stobbit_--thatched by means of a stob or stake. _Stoitered_--staggered, tottered. _Stookit_--put into shocks. _Stoor_--dust. _Stoorum_--gruel. _Store the kin_--live, keep up the stock. _Stot_--bullock older than a stirk. _Stounds_--aches, acute pains. _Streek_--stretch. _Streen_--yesterday. _Strype_--small rill. _Studdy_--anvil. _Swak_--supple. _Swarfed_--fainted. _Swatch_--sample piece. _Sweel_--swill, to wash away. _Sweer_--lazy. _Swith_--swiftly. _Swither_--hesitate. _Syne_--then, since.

_Tablin'_--top stones on a gable, _Tack_--lease. _Tansies_--ragweed, _Tap_--top. _Tashed_--fatigued. _Ted_--toad, applied to children or young women as a term of endearment. _Teem, toom_--empty. _Tenty_--careful, attentive. _Teuch_--tough. _Teuchat_--lapwing. _Thackit_--thatched. _Thewless_--feeble. _Thiggin'_--to go about receiving supply not in the way of common mendicants, but rather giving others an opportunity of showing their liberality. _Thirled_--bound or enthralled. _Thoom_--thumb, to massage with the thumbs. _Thrang_--throng. _Thrapple_--throat. _Thrave_--two stocks or sheaves. _Thraw_--twist, sprain. _Thrawcruik_--implement for twisting straw ropes. _Threeve_--throve. _Thrums_--ends of yarn; _span her thrums_--purred. _Timmer_--timber. _Tint_--lost. _Tirl_--act of vibrating. _Tirl the sneck_--twirl the handle of the latch. _Tirr_--to strip forcibly. _Tittit the tow_--pulled the bell-rope. _Toom_--empty. _Tocher_--dowry. _Tod_--fox. _Towmond_--twelvemonth. _Trail the rape_--Hallowe'en spell which consisted in dragging a straw rope of peculiar make round the house. _Trams_--shafts, as of a cart. _Trauchled_--draggled. _Travise_--division between stalls. _Troke_--barter. _Truff_--turf. _Trump_--Jew's harp. _Tulzie_--quarrel. _Tweezlock_--another name for thrawcruik. _Tyauve_ (_wi' a_)--with great difficulty.

_Unco_--strange, uncommon.

_Virr_--force, impetuosity. _Vratches_--wretches. _Vreetin'_--writing. _Vricht_--wright.

_Wadset_--to mortgage. _Waled_--chosen. _Waller_--weller, frequenter of St. Ronan's well. _Wardly_--worldly. _Wared_--expended. _Warslin'_--struggling. _Waucht_--large draught _Weet_--wet. _Weird_--fate, destiny. _Whaup_--curlew. _Wheeple_--shrill intermitting note with little variation of tone. _Whip-the-cat_--tailor with no fixed place of business, who goes from house to house. _Whorl_--flywheel of a spindle made of wood or stone. _Whylock_--little while. _Wicks o' mou's_--corners of the mouth. _Winceys_--petticoats made of wincey. _Wiss_--wish. _Wuddy_--gallows. _Wye_--way.

_Yeldrin_--yellow-hammer. _Yett_--gate. _Yill_--ale. _Yird_--earth. _Yokin'_--working period during which horses are in harness. _Youkie_--itchy. _Yowes_--ewes.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, BRUNSWICK STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.