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The collected writings of Dougal Graham

"Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow: edited with notes: Together with a Biographical and Bibliographical Introduction, and a Sketch of the Chap Literature of Scotland: by George MacGregor: In two volumes

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THE TURNIMSPIKE.
  
  
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261

THE TURNIMSPIKE.


263

Her sel pe Highland shentleman,
Pe auld as Pothwell prig, man;
And mony alterations seen
Amang the Lawland whig, man.
Fal lal, &c.
First when her to the Lowlands came,
Nain sell was driving cows, man:
There was nae laws about hims narse,
About the breeks or trouse, man.
Fal lal, &c.
Nain sell did wear the philapeg,
The plaid prik't on her shouder;
The gude claymore hung pe her pelt,
The pistol sharg'd wi' pouder.
Fal lal, &c.
But for whereas these cursed preeks,
Wherewith mans narse be lockit,
O hon, that ere she saw the day!
For a' her houghs pe prokit.
Fal lal, &c.
Every thing in the Highlands now,
Pe turn't to alteration;
The sodger dwal at our door cheek,
And that's te great vexation.
Fal lal, &c.
Scotland be turn't a Ningland now,
And laws pring on the cadger:
Nain sell wad durk him for hur deeds,
But oh she fears the sodger.
Fal lal, &c.

264

Another law came after that,
Me never saw the like, man;
They mak a lang road on the crund,
And ca' him turnimspike, man.
Fal lal, &c.
And wow she pe a ponny road,
Like Louden corn rigs, man;
Whare twa carts may gang on her,
And no break others legs, man.
Fal lal, &c.
They sharge a penny for ilka hors,
In troth they'l be nae sheaper,
For nought but gaen upo' the crund,
And they gie me a paper.
Fal lal, &c.
They tak the hors then pe the head,
And there they mak them stand, man.
I tell'd them that I seen the day
They had na sic command, man,
Fal lal, &c.
Nae doubts nain-sell maun draw his purs,
And pay them what him's like, man:
I'll see a shudgement on his store,
That filthy turnimspike, man.
Fal lal, &c.
But I'll awa to the Highland hills,
Where nere a ane sall turn her;
And no come near your turnimspike,
Unless it pe to purn her.
Fal lal, &c.