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12
THRUMMY CAP.
A TALE
In ancient times, far i' the north,
A hundred miles ayont the forth,
Upon a stormy winter day,
Twa men forgather'd o' the way,
Ane was a sturdy bardoch chiel
An' frae the weather happit weel,
Wi' a mill'd plaiding jockey-coat
And eke he on his head had got
A thrummy cap baith large and stout,
Wi' flaps ahind as weel's a snout,
Whilk button'd close aneath his chin;
To keep the cauld frae getting in;
Upon his legs he had gammashes,
Whilk sodgers term their spatterdashes
An' on his hands, instead o' gloves,
Large doddy mittens, whilk he,d roose
For warmness, an' an aiken stick
Nae verra lang, but unco thick,
Intill his nieve—he drave awa',
But car'd for neither frost nor snaw,
The other was just the reverse,
O' claes and courage baith was scarce,
Sae in our tale, as we go on,
I think we'll ca' him cow'rdly John.
Sae on they gade at a gude scow'r,
'Cause that they saw a gath'ring shower,
A hundred miles ayont the forth,
Upon a stormy winter day,
Twa men forgather'd o' the way,
Ane was a sturdy bardoch chiel
An' frae the weather happit weel,
Wi' a mill'd plaiding jockey-coat
And eke he on his head had got
A thrummy cap baith large and stout,
Wi' flaps ahind as weel's a snout,
Whilk button'd close aneath his chin;
To keep the cauld frae getting in;
Upon his legs he had gammashes,
Whilk sodgers term their spatterdashes
An' on his hands, instead o' gloves,
Large doddy mittens, whilk he,d roose
For warmness, an' an aiken stick
Nae verra lang, but unco thick,
Intill his nieve—he drave awa',
But car'd for neither frost nor snaw,
The other was just the reverse,
O' claes and courage baith was scarce,
Sae in our tale, as we go on,
I think we'll ca' him cow'rdly John.
Sae on they gade at a gude scow'r,
'Cause that they saw a gath'ring shower,
