"Niver a lenth," said the watter, "will I quench fire; fire niver did me ony ill."
"Ox, ox, drink watter; watter winna quench fire; fire winna burn stick," &c.
"Niver a lenth," said the ox, "the watter niver did me ony ill."
"Aix, aix, kill ox; ox winna drink watter; watter winna quench fire; fire," &c.
"Niver a lenth," said the aix, "the ox niver did me ony ill."
"Smith, smith, smee aix; aix winna kill ox; ox," &c.
"Niver a lenth," said the smith, "the aix niver did me ony ill."
"Rope, rope, hang smith; smith winna smee aix; aix winna," &c.
"Niver a lenth," said the rope, "the smith niver did me ony ill."
"Moosie, moosie, gnaw rope; rope winna hang smith; smith," &c.
Noo, a' this time the cattie wiz sittin i' the ingle-neuk singin a sang till hersel.
So the wifie said:—"Bonnie cattie, gin ye wud tak moosie, I wud gie you some fine milk an breed t' yersel."
So the cattie t' the moosie, an the moosie t' the rope, an the rope t' the smith, an the smith t' the aix, an the aix t' the ox, and the ox t' the watter, an the watter t' the fire, an the fire t' the stick, an the stick t' the dog, an the dog t' the kid, an the kid ran hame, leukit the hoose, an cam again till the wifie gedderit a puckle sticks till her fair firie.
Another version of the ending is:—An the kiddie ran ower the brig o' the waulk-mill an broke her neck.Walter Gregor.
SOME DERBYSHIRE PROVERBS AND SAYINGS.
"If St. Paul be fine and clear,
It doth betide a happy year;
But if that day it snow or rain,
Then will be dear all sorts of grain."
