There’s mae[124] madines[125] nor makines[126].  Girls are more plentiful in the world than hares.

Ye bried[127] of the gouk[128], ye have not a rhyme[129] but ane.  Applied to persons who tire everybody by constantly harping on one subject.

The collection by Allan Ramsay is very good, and professes to correct the errors of former collectors.  I have now before me the first edition, Edinburgh, 1737, with the appropriate motto on the title-page, “That maun be true that a’ men say.”  This edition contains proverbs only, the number being 2464.  Some proverbs in this collection I do not find in others, and one quality it possesses in a remarkable degree—­it is very Scotch.  The language of the proverbial wisdom has the true Scottish flavour; not only is this the case with the proverbs themselves, but the dedication to the tenantry of Scotland, prefixed to the collection, is written in pure Scottish dialect.  From this dedication I make an extract, which falls in with our plan of recording Scotch reminiscences, as Allan Ramsay there states the great value set upon proverbs in his day, and the great importance which he attaches to them as teachers of moral wisdom, and as combining amusement with instruction.  The prose of Allan Ramsay has, too, a spice of his poetry in its composition.  His dedication is, To the tenantry of Scotland, farmers of the dales, and storemasters of the hills—­

“Worthy friends—­The following hoard of wise sayings and observations of our forefathers, which have been gathering through mony bygane ages, I have collected with great care, and restored to their proper sense....

“As naething helps our happiness mair than to have the mind made up wi’ right principles, I desire you, for the thriving and pleasure of you and yours, to use your een and lend your lugs to these guid auld saws, that shine wi’ wail’d sense, and will as lang as the world wags.  Gar your bairns get them by heart; let them have a place among your family-books, and may never a window-sole through the country be without them.  On a spare hour, when the day is clear, behind a ruck, or on the green howm, draw the treasure frae your pouch, an’ enjoy the pleasant companion.  Ye happy herds, while your hirdsell are feeding on the flowery braes, you may eithly make yoursells master of the haleware.  How usefou’ will it prove to you (wha hae sae few opportunities of common clattering) when ye forgather wi’ your friends at kirk or market, banquet or bridal!  By your proficiency you’ll be able, in the proverbial way, to keep up the saul of a conversation that is baith blyth an usefou’.”

Mr. Henderson’s work is a compilation from those already mentioned.  It is very copious, and the introductory essay contains some excellent remarks upon the wisdom and wit of Scottish proverbial sayings.