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4

Nae langer was resolved to bear it,
And hardships was resolved to scorn—
As the saying is, 'to mak' a spoon or spoil a horn.'
He shrewd and clever was, I trow;
Spak' Gaelic weel, and Lawlan's, too ;
And, as he was an honest chiel,
By a' his neighbours liket weel.
Ae day— contrivin' what to dae
To keep himsel' aboon the brae—
A plan he modell'd in his head,
And thus it down before them laid:—
That twa weeks hence in England, there
Wad be a great black cattle fair,
Whar kye as he learnt frae men o' dealings
Gied double price gi'en in the Highlands.
Now if, wi' what he could himsel
Spare safely frae his flock to sell,
They wad mak' up a drove amang them,
He pledged his word he wadna wrang them,
But render, at his comin' back,
A just account o' ilka plack;
Allowing him for recompense
Some sma' commission and's expense.

On this they quickly greed to gie