Punch (77.1879)

December 6, 1879.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 255

"WANDERING WILLIE."

A Fragment from a Modern Border Ballad.

awe . \vT\ .

Now word is gane to the Bauld Bt/cclettch,
In.Dalkeith Palace, where that he lay,

That Midlothian has summoned word-rife "Willie,
His ain son's hame-seat to -win away.

He hag taen the tahle wi' his hand,
He has gar'd the Gladstone spring on hie—■

*' Now confound these Midlothian hodies! " he said,
" But o' Provost and Baillies avenged I '11 be !

" Oh, is my rent-roll a borough rate-book,
Or my dukedom a trumpery penny-fee,

Or my son Dalkeith daft as weel as dumb,
That Midlothian's Bads should lichtly me ?

" And hae they brocht Aim—word-rife "Willie,—
Sae hard on the turn o' the Jingo-tide,

And forgotten that the Bauld Btjccletjch
Is master here on the Scottish side!

" Hae they gien him ovations and airches o' greea,
And rugs and mauds, and claithes and gear,

And forgotten that to the Bauld Btjcclelch
They 're the main o' them tenants by lease or year ?

" Oh, were Dalkeith a lad o' brains !—

As weel I wot that he is nane,—
He wad gie this Willie a reddin' down,

Though he 'd talk a dog's leg frae the bane !

" And 'gin his words and wits ran low,—
As there's little doot recht soon they would,—

I'd tak' ither means to mak' these pairts
Too het for this firebrand where he stood.

" But since my son's no a lad o' his haun's,
And than talk against Willie wad sooner dee,1

I '11 no trust a bawbee to Dalkeith's brains,
And yet word-rife Willie bowled out shall be."

He has called him some five-score henchmen bauld,
I trow there was nae lack for the game,