on to twa thoosan’ there ere a’ was deen.  An’ aye a bit fudder was comin’ up fae the manse aboot fat the Presbytery was deein—­they war chaumer’t there, ye see, wi’ the lawvyers an’ so on.  “Nyod, they maun be sattlin’ ‘im i’ the manse,” says ane, “we’ll need a’ gae doon an’ see gin we can win in.”  “Na, na,” says anither, “a bit mair bather aboot thair dissents an’ appales bein’ ta’en; muckle need they care, wi’ sic a Presbytery, fat they try.  But here’s Johnny Florence, the bellman, at the lang length, I’se be at the boddom o’ fat they’re at noo.”  And wi’ that he pints till a carlie comin’ across the green, wi’ a bit paper in’s han’, an’ a gryte squad o’ them ‘t hed been hingin’ aboot the manse-door at’s tail.  “Oo, it’s Johnny gyaun to read the edick,” cries a gey stoot chap, an’ twa three o’ them gya a roar o’ a lauch....  “Speek oot, min!” cries ane.  “I think ye mith pronunce some better nor that, Johnny,” says anither; an’ they interrupit ‘im fan he was tryin’ to read wi’ a’ kin’ of haivers, takin’ the words oot o’s mou, an’ makin’ the uncoest styte o’t ’t cud be.

Notes.—­brae, hill; wan up, got up; gyaun upon, going close upon; braw, excellent; twal, twelve; sattlement, decision; I’se, I will (lit.  I shall); sanna, will not; till’s, for us; kent fowk, known people, acquaintances; a’gate, in all ways; hunners, hundreds; fae, from; hyne awa’, hence away, as far off; the tae, the one; the tither, the other; yauws, sails; puckles, numbers, many; dyke, stone fence; orra jaw, various loud talk; mair gedderin’, more gathering; on to, near; deen, done; bit fudder, bit of a rumour (lit. gust of wind); fae, from; fat, what; deein, doing; chaumer’t, chambered, shut up; nyod, a disguised oath; we’ll need, we must; gin, if; win in, get in:  bather, bother; at the lang length, at last; carlie, churl; gryte squad, great crowd; gey stoot, rather stout; twa three, two or three; gya, gave; mith, might; nor that, than that; haivers, foolish talk; mou, mouth; uncoest, most uncouth, strangest; styte, nonsense.

SCOTTISH (Group 7):  AYRSHIRE.

The following lines are quoted from a well-known
poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796).

The Twa Dogs (C{ae}sar and Luath).

C{ae}s.  “I’ve notic’d, on our Laird’s court-day,
       An’ mony a time my heart’s been wae,
       Poor tenant bodies, scant o’ cash,
       How they maun thole a factor’s snash
       He’ll stamp an’ threaten, curse an’ swear,
       He’ll apprehend them, poind their gear;
       While they maun stan’, wi’ aspect humble,
       An’ hear it a’, an’ fear and tremble! 
         I