Splores of a Halloween, Twenty Years Ago — A Closer Reading

Wharin were mustered arms; So what wi' those in rear that charged, And what wi' those in front, Against sic odds they ken'd 'twas rash To battle wi' a runt:

So they retreated to the Crafts And Council held o' war-- A' laughin', talkin', crackin' jokes, Uninjured by a scar-- When Robie said, come on, let's gang, Hugh Christie let us cage; Now, Hugh was crabbit and they liked To put him in a rage.

Wi' tiptae steps they slippit up, And firmly tied the door, Then gently tirled--Hugh cried, "Wha's there?" Will gied a cuddie's roar-- Hugh in a lowe, wi' door in hand, Said he would them he-haw, When Jock like ony sheep did bae, And Pate like cock did craw.

Hugh finding that his threats were vain For that the door was tied, Began to swear, and kick, and pu' And "let me out," he cried; When raging like a very bear, And down him ran the sweat, They a' put out their utmost skill To mak him yet mair het.

Some squeak't on panes, some thump't the door, Some rumbled on the wa' Wi' muckle stanes, till Hugh was sure The very house wad fa';-- Now, Tam, the laird, sat on his loom, When hearin' sic a racket He hurried out sayin' to himsel, Sure Hugh has now gane crackit.

But Tam was late--the stage was clear, Yet Hugh still raged and swore-- Tam in gruff voice bid him be quiet-- What ailed him at the door? Now this was mair than Hugh could stan' Frae Tam to get the wite, And getting vent, he burst on Tam, Then baith began to flyte.

Hugh wanted out--Tam wanted in: Each did the other blame-- Tam cried to Hugh, he'd break the door-- Hugh cried to Tam, gae hame; But how it ended I ne'er learned, But 'twas na then and there, For, Hugh and Tam, they did'na speak For weeks, and may be mair.

And now to Peggie's they are aff, Wha's gley'd and maistly blin'-- Hoot! haudawa guid folks! ne'er fear! They dinna mean o' sin; They're daft wi' fun and this they ken-- A's game on Halloween-- For Baillies' threats and Provosts' laws They dinna care a prein.

Jock gied a backie-up to Tam, And Jimmie he stood bye, When Tam should gie the chess a rap That he should then let fly: Tam gied twa raps, and Jimmie quick Upon the sole let clash, Wi' sic a noise that Peggie thought Had fallen out the sash.

She hurried to the door and then Weel blackguarded them a, As scoundrels, rascals and far war, Though ne'er a ane she saw; Then owre the window 'gan to grape And looked wi' head agee, But fient a hole or crack she fand And far less ane could see.

While graping here, and keeking there In search o' cracks and hole-- For she was sure that some were broke, For glass was on the sole-- Jock slippit up behind, unheard, And kittled quiet her lug, And ere she could to him turn round He neist gied her a hug.

In muckle rage that ane would daur Wi' her sic freedom tak, She hurried in and quick took down A jug beside the rack, And filling it wi' water het Frae kettle on the hob, She sware his fairin she'd gie him For sic a shameless job:

But muckle war for Peggie 'twas To get in sic a fike, Far better had she taen a stra And kittled a wasps' bike-- For Nellie Brash was passing bye, A fish-wife for a tongue, And Peggie seeing something move On her the water flung.

But Gude preserve us! what a screigh! And what a dreadfu' aith! Than limmar, jad, far war wi' aithis She ca'd her in hale-claith; And working hersel' up to wark, Wi' screigh like ony fien', She rushed on Peggie like a hawk, And swore she'd straucht her een.

But Johnnie wi' a pluck that night Was seen gaun in his door-- Now, a' that ken'd him, ken'd that he A pluck did 'maist adore; But maist a jaddie he did like, Aboon a' ye could name, For never man liked woman sic As Johnnie liked his wame:

And Geordie guessing what was up, Led aff his gallant corps-- Thinking it prudent Nell and Peg Should settle their ain score-- They helped him up upon the dyke And canny he crawled up The gavil cape-stanes on his knees, Till lum-head he did grup;