Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/115

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HIPPlC FOLK-LORE FROM SCOTLAND.
107

With regard to the management of the horse it is said:—

"Up the hill trot me not;
Doon the hill gallop me not;
In the fair road spare me not;
In the stable forget me not."

There is another and a somewhat contradictory version:—

"Up hill drive me not;
Doon hill spare me not;
In the stable forget me not."

With regard to shoeing it is said:—

"Place a bit upo' the tae,
T' help the horse t' climb the brae;
Raise the cawker i' the heel,
T' gar the horsie trot weel."

To this may be added the following proverbs, familiar to me from boyhood, and customs told me by Mr. Duncan, blacksmith, who has shared in the festivities.

He hiz nae mehr conscience nor a cadger's horse; i.e., he is greedy, or he is unscrupulous in asking or taking.

A'll gee you yer com afore yer water; spoken as a threat of doing some injury to one who has offended you.

I widd (would) raither be a back-chain wintin grease till a cadger's cairt.

I widd raither be a back-chain till a cairt, or a donkey to the cairds (tinkers).

I widd raither be a back-chain till a cairrier's cairt though it were aye gyain doon hill; always used to express the most decided refusal amounting to disgust.

To eat like a horse; said of one who eats more than usual.

To sweat like a horse; i.e., to perspire profusely.

As hungry's a horse; spoken of one having a good appetite.

A's sicks a horse.

He (she) hiz the stamak o' a horse; spoken of one who has a strong digestion.

He's (she) a perfect horse.

He's (she) as strong's a horse.