THRUMMY CAP,
A TALE.
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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 beneath 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' glo'es,
Large doddy mittens, whilk he roose
For warmness, an' an aiken stick,
Nae verra lang, but unco thick,
lntil bis neive--he drave awa,
And card for neither frost nor snaw.
The ither was just the reverse,
O' claes and courage baith was scarce ;
Sae in our tale, as we go on,
I think we'd ca' him cow'rdly John.
Sae on they gade at gude scow'r,
'Cause that they saw a gath'ring show'r,
