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I hope that this Flag reaches our readership OK I’m working on Microsoft Word for the first time in my life and not finding the transition from my old AppleWorks all that easy.

I still have to work out how to send this into outer space, but I think I’m getting there. Apologies for any daftness.

MARGARET AGAIN

Margaret Ewing was such a feature of the Scottish National Party that she seemed almost permanent. I have one or two little personal memories that I would like to share.

My friend Andrew Kerr was on the phone the other day to point out that it was his father, the late Anthony J C Kerr, who, when he was a teacher at Biggar High School in the 1960s, had Margaret as a pupil and actually gave her and many others replied paid postcards about the Scottish National Party.

I can well remember, asking a staunch Conservative friend after the elections of 1974, who his new MP was, to which he replied, with a smile of clear delight and satisfaction, “It’s Margaret Bain, actually.”

Shortly after that I arranged for Margaret to show my parents round the House of Commons and they were charmed by her obvious decency and enthusiasm.

My strongest recollection of Margaret was just at the end of one annual conference in Rothesay when she and a few others were sitting around relaxing and they began to sing some Scottish folk songs and songs of independence. I was astonished at her stamina and at the number of those songs that she knew, and at the stamina of that frail-looking girl.

The Scottish National Party has indeed lost a great figure.

ANOTHER ELECTION WIN

Well, another Thursday and another local government by-election win. Great, as this win was in the Borestone ward of Stirling, named after the site beside the great victory of Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.

Also great, because the SNP won the seat from Labour, recording an increase of a 16.5% increase in our share of vote. Here are the actual results of our two recent wins:

	Glasgow Milton	Stirling Borestone
	(16 February)	(30 March)

	Vote	%	% Change	Vote	%	% Change
SNP	773	49.6	+ 17.1	374	38.8	+ 16.6
Labour	623	40.0	- 12.6	335	34.8	- 6.1
SSP	93	5.9	- 4.7	165	17.1	+ 9.2
LibDem	44	2.8	- 1.4	57	5.9	- 5.8
Conservative	29	1.6	+ 1.6	32	3.4	+ 3.4

This result also highlights how well the SNP is doing at winning by-elections. Of the five local government by-elections held since the beginning of the year, Labour has lost all four of its previously held seats: the SNP has won two, an independent one, and the LibDems one. In the other by-election, the Conservatives held their own seat in South Lanarkshire.

But one word of warning. While our activists have worked hard and intelligently, all these victories have also been down to one other basic factor: voters are fed up with Labour and will vote for the party they think is most likely to defeat the Labour candidate. That is why the LibDems have won a seat in Glasgow Kingspark, and why the Tories held on very easily in South Lanarkshire.

A NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM?

What should be the Scottish national anthem? The letters page of the Herald newspaper has been full of choices, and I must say I am amazed at how passionate the views have been. Sadly, much of the passion has been spent on quite wild denigration of songs that writers do not like, rather than promoting the songs that they do.

The old favourites are there, of course. Scots Wha Hae will always be popular, but it doesn’t seem best to me. Flower of Scotland is easy to sing, but it doesn’t seem to have the dignity of an anthem. For me, Scotland the Brave is just a non-starter – a nice wee jiggy tune but never a national anthem, possibly the reason why the Scottish sports establishment insists on playing it when we win gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Inevitably, A Man’s a Man for a’ That features strongly, with its excellent sentiments, but I must say I find the tune monotonous and with all the repetition of the words I cannot help thinking that it is not one of Burns’s best efforts, and was maybe written when he was a bit under the weather.

Another contender has been Hamish Henderson’s Freedom Come All Ye, and it too certainly has fine sentiments, but an anthem it is not.

Another tune that I personally like a lot but which has its detractors is Highland Cathedral, but it would have to have new words written for it.

My own favourite, by far, is Land of Light. It won a national competition against many other songs in 1999, just before the new Scottish Parliament first sat. I was so enthused when I heard that the song had won that I phoned up the SNP’s Mike Russell to urge him to promote the song. Mike was very busy at the time and nothing came of it, and the song was not much heard, in Scotland at least, after 2000.

So it was good to see an article by Mike in the Herald last week extolling the virtues of Land of Light.

And if the Scots can’t decide from that little lot, then maybe we should take a look at the old psalm tunes - or even at some other national anthems - for inspiration. I don’t know many, and I don’t much care for the French or Italian anthems, but the ones I do like are the American, the German, and the Russian. The Japanese is good, too, but very definitely with an eastern flavour. One final suggestion - try to find and listen to the old East German anthem: the music is wonderful!

LABOUR WORRIES

Well, well, it has come to this. We all know that Labour is deeply unpopular (see article above), but even some Scottish MPs are now clearly worried about the impact government unpopularity might have on the Scottish elections next year.

Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow South West wants Tony Blair to go “sooner rather than later”. Mr Davidson adds: “What we have got to avoid is the Scottish elections becoming a referendum on Blair.”

That would never do!

SCOTS ABROAD WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT

It’s an interesting fact that Scots in Scotland know very little – usually almost nothing – about the Scots and their descendants who have made their names abroad.

This train of thought was inspired by a recent visit to the town of Tain in the North East of Scotland, where I learned that a certain Peter Fraser, born near Tain in 1884 had gone on to become prime minister of new Zealand from 1940 to 1949.

Just out of interest, here are a few other facts about Scots abroad.

Scottish scholars have always been far travelled. Duns Scotus, born about 1265, probably in Duns in Berwickshire, taught at the universities of Oxford, Paris and Cologne, where he died and was buried in 1308.

George Buchanan, c. 1506 to 1582, studied Latin in Paris and later taught there and in Bordeaux, where the great Montaigne was one of his pupils.

John Kirkmichael became Bishop of Orleans and led the procession of thanksgiving along with Joan of Arc after the city was relieved in 1429.

John Hepburn, born in Athelstaneford in East Lothian rose to become a general in the Swedish army under the great king Gustavus Adolphus. He transferred to the French army and became a Marshal of the French army before being killed at the age of thirty-nine.

Another soldier of fortune, Patrick Gordon, born in Aberdeenshire in 1635, became a soldier in the Swedish army, before rising to become a general under Peter the Great of Russia. He died in 1699 and is buried in Moscow.

A little nearer in time, one of napoleon’s generals was Marshal Alexandre MacDonald, while on the opposing side, Marshal Barclay de Tolly was commander in chief of the Russian army at the battle of Leipzig in 1813.

This is just a small selection, mostly dating far back, and restricted to Europe. Next month I’ll mention a few others, and if any readers have other unknown Scots abroad who should be better known, please let me know.

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP

Click here to read SNP MSP Linda Fabiani's working diary.

SYNOPSIS

SNP & PLAID CYMRU PROPOSE FRESH INITIATIVE ON PARTY FUNDING

“Only an open, transparent and public process can repair the damage done by the donations scandal”

Addressing the growing public mistrust in the political establishment, Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party have called for a Speaker's Conference to be convened as an open, transparent and public initiative to tackle those concerns. The move comes as Scotland Yard investigates allegations concerning Labour donations and the possible sale of peerages and has hinted at the possibility of prosecution.

While Lord Falconer has held closed door meetings with the Party Leaders concerning the issue of House of Lords reform, the SNP/Plaid Cymru’s proposal would mean an open and transparent means to discuss all the issues involved. Speaker’s Conferences are significant in that, unlike the Hayden Phillips review, this initiative will be open, transparent, public and Parliament driven.

Elfyn Llwyd MP, Leader of the Plaid Cymru group at Westminster explained:

"While the police are investigating the allegations of a sleazy past, it is up to Parliament to secure a clean democratic future. Lord Falconer's scramble to shift the debate has hardly fooled the public, nor likely been noticed.

“As details of the donations scandal come out, a general picture is emerging that casts the Executive in an ever-shadier light.

“A Speaker's Conference could include on its agenda a discussion on the distribution of power between the Executive and the elected Parliament. After all, this is only the latest incident that has shown the executive to be pretty much beyond the scrutiny of Parliament.

“Instead of murky back-room deals, a Speaker’s Conference would give Parliament and the public what we all need: transparency, openness and accessibility.”

Alex Salmond MP, Leader of the Scottish National Party commented:

"The current scandal over loans for peerages has completely shattered the public's trust in the politics of the London parties. At the moment the political establishment’s reply seems to be the usual suspects coming to their usual agreements behind closed doors. All that has changed is that the corridors of Westminster are now smoke free.

“The public deserves, needs and wants action, and this action needs to be seen to be transparent, public and led by Parliament and not discredited.

“Since 1916, the Speaker's Conferences have proven themselves as the ideal instrument to discuss the great constitutional questions of the time.

“House of Lords reform, party funding and the balance of power between Downing Street and Westminster are now constitutional questions entwined because of recent developments. It is time we all get a definitive answer to them."

Notes:

Speaker’s Conferences have been called seven times between 1916 and 1978.
A Speaker's conference is a formal inquiry into the arrangements governing elections. It can be an alternative to a Royal Commission.
A Speaker's conference is chaired by the Speaker and its membership is drawn from all of the political parties in the House of Commons.
They have been used to discuss electoral reform, devolution and Northern Ireland representation at Westminster.
There are no fixed statutory rules governing the creation of a Speaker’s Conference.
Membership is decided by the Speaker of the House, drawing from lists submitted by the parties and representing a cross section of Parliament.
Since 1973, evidence to Speaker’s Conferences have been published.
Decisions of the Conferences are published as a command paper in the form of a letter to the Prime Minister from the Speaker.

SALMOND AT UNITED NATIONS AND CAPITOL HILL

SNP LEADER PROMOTES SCOTLAND IN THE WORLD

SNP Leader, Alex Salmond MP, arrived in New York on Monday for the start of a Tartan Week visit to the city and Washington, which will include meetings at the UN and Capitol Hill.

Mr Salmond’s visit is designed to promote Scotland as a place to do business and he will be setting out his ambitions for Scotland as First Minister after the Scottish elections in 2007.

Mr Salmond’s itinerary included:

Monday:

Meeting with Kofi Annan's Chief Policy Advisor to discuss the role small nations play in the work of the UN.
Lecture at Columbia University on independence and Scotland’s place in the world
Attending Dressed to Kilt where he will be wearing a new Robert Burns tartan

Tuesday:

Speaking at Georgetown University on Scotland’s economic potential
Meetings on Capitol Hill including with the Council of Economic Advisors where he will be discussing trade, energy and economic opportunities for Scotland in the US.

Wednesday:

Further meetings on Capitol Hill including with the founders of the Scottish Congressional caucus where he will discuss Scottish-US relations

Alex Salmond Commenting Mr Salmond said:

“This year is the 9th Tartan Day when Americans celebrate and remember the contribution of Scotland to the USA.

“Thanks primarily to the work of US scholars, we now know that the American Declaration of Independence was largely inspired by the Scottish Declaration of Independence – the Declaration of Arbroath.

“Indeed, over half the signatories to the American Declaration of Independence were of Scots descent.

“With more and more Scots now supporting a real parliament for Scotland, which is better able to improve our economy and national wealth, Independence is back on the agenda.

“This week is about building on the Scotland’s positive image in the US and I will be doing my bit to promote Scotland as a place to visit and do business.

“As the world’s largest economy, the USA is a crucial trading partner for Scotland. The more we can do to sell Scotland in this market, the better for jobs, wages and wealth back home.

“In meetings in the UN and on Capitol Hill I will be setting out my ambitions for improving Scotland’s economy and making Scotland a more attractive and competitive place to invest and do business.

“I will be letting people know that Scotland is emerging once again onto the world stage. Our first parliament for over 300 years is part of a process that will lead to full national independence and greater national wealth.

“But above all, my message to the USA is that Scotland has a great deal to contribute to the world and as an independent state would be a voice for peace, prosperity and partnership.”

SNP WELCOME AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RENDITION REPORT

"This publication further adds to the pressure on the Scottish Executive and the UK government to come clean"

The SNP’s shadow Foreign Office spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, welcomed the publication of Amnesty International's report into CIA rendition flights through Scotland. The report highlights serious new concerns over UK involvement in secret CIA "rendition" flights.

In January 2006, the SNP published a report listing between 40 and 50 alleged intelligence flights through Scottish airports. Angus Robertson MP, SNP Foreign Affairs and Defence spokesperson, called on both the Labour/LibDem Executive and the UK government for transparency on the details of the allegations.

With the publication of their report, Amnesty International has called for a full independent public inquiry into all aspects of the UK's involvement in this much criticized and hushed-up practice.

Commenting on the publication of Amnesty International's report and the continuous silence by the Labour/LibDem Executive and the UK government, Mr Robertson said:

"This report adds to the number of concerns raised by ourselves and the public. It adds pressure on the UK government to be open on the subject. We know from a leaked Whitehall memo that Ministers have been instructed to avoid the details of this issue.

"In January, the SNP published a report listing between 40 and 50 intelligence flights through Scottish airports. Some of the planes have been linked with the transportation of prisoners. At the time of publishing we invited the Labour/LibDem Executive to look into the matter and clarify their involvement. To date, no such clarification has been forthcoming.

"This is a serious issue about our standing in the world and the UK government and Labour/LibDem Executive need to end the culture of secrecy. If we are to effectively combat terrorist extremism we need to maintain the highest human rights standards and the UK is creating a bad impression with obfuscation and spin.

"There is serious concern across the political spectrum about US rendition flights. These concerns will be considerably heightened by Amnesty International's new report.

"However, it is galling to listen to the high moral tone of the Liberal Democrats about the need for full disclosure and investigations, when their own government ministers in Scotland are doing nothing about it.

"Despite the criminal justice system and many transport matters being devolved, the Liberal Democrats are pursuing a ‘hear evil, see evil, but do nothing policy’.”

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Second-hand, Fine & Rare Scottish Books.

Regular catalogues issued by email. To subscribe, email us at: Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com

Gordon Wright’s Scottish Photo Library

Spanning forty-five years and featuring a wide variety of illustrations in colour and black and white covering all aspects of Scottish life from Orkney to the Border country. Thousands of personality portraits.

Images for reproduction. Prints for collectors.

Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com

7 April 1565
Mary Queen of Scots ordered a Roman alter and bath-house discovered at Inveresk, near Musselburgh, to be protected.

7 April 1906
The first football international match was played at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Scotland defeated England 2-1.

7 April 1966
Jim Clark of Duns, Berwickshire, twice world motor racing champion, was killed taking part in a Formula 2 race when his car slid off the rain-soaked Hockenheim track in Germany and hit a tree. He was the first-ever World Champion from Scotland in 1963 and regained the title in 1965. In 1965 he also captured the Indianapolis 500 race – the first non-American to clinch such a victory since 1946.

9 April 1746
A Jacobite force attacked and plundered Cullen House, the home of staunch Hanoverian supporter Lord Findlater, the Sheriff of Banffshire.

9 April 1817
Birth of Alexander Thomson (called Greek Thomson), outstanding Glasgow architect, at Balfron, Stirlingshire, the seventeenth of twenty children of John Thomson, bookkeeper, and the ninth of his second wife, Elizabeth Cooper.

10 April 2005
Hearts FC apologised for a minority of fans who had booed a minutes silence in tribute to Pope John Paul II at the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden Park. Referee Stuart Dougal was forced to end the tribute after 24 seconds. Celtic won the tie 2-1.

11 April 146
Birth of Roman Emperor Lucius Septimuis Severus (193-211). During his reign the Antonine Wall was briefly re-manned by Roman legionnaires as Severus attempted to ethnically cleanse the Caledonians.

11 April 1596
William Armstrong, a noted moss-trooper, was rescued from English imprisonment in Carlise Castle, giving rise to the Border Ballad ‘Kinmont Willie’. The successful rescue was led by his kinsman Walter Scott of Buccleuch, Keeper of Liddlesdale, Armstrong of Kinmont, near Canonbie, was one of the most successful of the Border Reivers and could rally up to 1000 horsemen in his raids into Northumberland and Cumberland.

“And when we cam to the lower prison.
Where Willie of Kinmont he did lie,
‘O, sleep ye, wake ye, Kinmont Willie,
Upon the morn that thou’s to die?...

‘Farewell, farewell. My gude Lord Scrope!
My gude Lord Scrope, farewell!’ he cried;
‘I’ll pay you back for my lodging mail,
When first we meet on the Borderside.’ “

From the Ballad of Kinmont Willie

See Dates in History in our Features Section

SCOTTISH QUOTATIONS

I like to have quotations ready for every occasions - they give one's ideas so pat and save one the trouble of finding expression adequate to one's feeling.

Robert Burns

We continue our new Feature in this section of the Flag - Scottish Quotations - statements in prose and verse which reflect all aspects of Scottish life and outlook from the 13^th century to the present day. New quotes added every week. The quotations are not restricted to native Scots but include observations from abroad which help us, in the words of our National Bard, Robert Burns, "To see oursels as others see us!

Henry Thomas Buckle (1821-1862)

An essential antagonism which still exists between the Scotch and English minds; an antagonism extremely remarkable, when found among nations, both of whom, besides being contiguous, and constantly mixing together, speak the same language, read the same books, belongs to the same empire and possess the same interests, and yet are, in many important respects, as different as if there had never been any means of their influencing each other, and as if they had never had anything in common.

(History of Civilization in England)

Joseph (Joe) Corrie (1894-1968)

There’s nae power on earth can crush the men that can sing…

James Maxton (1885-1946)

No people of high moral standing with any soul in them would submit to the domination of an English Parliament.

(Speech at meeting of the Scottish Home Rule Association reported in The Scots Independent June 1929)

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

They are gradually destroying what remains of nationality, and making the country tabula rasa for doctrines of bold innovation. Their loosening and grinding down all those peculiarities which distinguished us as Scotsmen will throw the country into a state in which it will be universally turned to democracy, and instead of canny Saunders, they will have a very dangerous North British neighbourhood.

(Journal 12 March 1826)

See Scottish Quotations in our Features Section

SING A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)

"That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"

- Robert Burns

THE MAN IN PETERHEAD
John S Clarke

John MacLean

When you’ve passed your resolutions and you feel you’ve done your bit:
And you think there’s nothing more that you can do.
Why not act and in your actions emulate the grit
Of the man in Peterhead who acts for you.

He is grateful for your money, he appreciates your cheers,
Your sympathy is ample for his needs,
But there’s more important things than resolutions, cash or tears,
Why not give him just a sample say of deeds.

Twas for you he garnered knowledge, sacrificed his very youth,
He worked for you until his head turned grey.
They are killing him by inches just because he thought the truth,
And having thought it, had the guts to say.

For truth’s the kind of virtue that the ruling classes fear,
By the foulest means to crush it they have tried.
’was for truth the stones of hate were hurled at prophet and at seer,
For truth the gentle Christ was crucified.

Will you suffer his destruction on the tyrants’ battle ground?
Will you let the cursed wrong defeat the right?
He is one against an army, are you going to see him downed?
Are you going to let him die without a fight?

He will pay you back in plenty. It’s you who stand to gain,
His lion heart is yours if he is spared,
Then workers for your own sake liberate MacLean
You could do it ay tomorrow if you dared.

Footnote: This song started life as a poem and first appeared as a two-penny broadsheet published in 1918 by the Women’s Section of the Glasgow District Council of the British Socialist Party in tribute to the revolutionary John MacLean (1879-1923) who was imprisoned for sedition in Peterhead prison at the time. The author John S Clarke was a prominent member of the Socialist Labour Party in Glasgow and later became an influential member of the Communist Party of Great Britain. He briefly represented Maryhill, Glasgow, in Westminster (1929-1931). I first heard it sung by the great folksinger Alistair McDonald and the poem was included in the booklet ‘Homage to John MacLean’ first published by the John MacLean Society in 1973, the fiftieth anniversary of MacLean’s death. The booklet edited by TS Law and Thurso Berwick was reprinted in 1979 by the Edinburgh University Student’s Association.

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our features section

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

Hot Cross Buns

The date of Pasch ( Easter ) is that of the Jewish Passover, which, in turn, coincides with the great pagan festival that celebrated the Spring Equinox - thus Easter is the season of renewal in nature. In pagan times, offerings were made to the Goddess of Spring. The Scandinavians called her Frigga; the Saxons, Eastre or Ostara, whence the English name Easter. In Scots, however, Easter is called Pasch or Pesse, a derivative of the Hebrew pesach, passover, and in Gaelic,Caisg.

Like the Passover, Easter was a lunar date - that of the first Sunday after the full moon, following the Spring Equinox, hence the old Scots rhyme -

First comes Candlemass,
Syne the new mune;
The neist Tyseday aifter that
Is aye Fester Een.
That mune oot
An the neist mune fou,
The neist mune aifter that
Is aye Pasch true.

The custom of baking cakes in honour of their gods and goddesses was widespread among the pagan peoples; the Egyptians made a cake marked with a cross in honour of the Moon; and in Greece and Rome bread similarly marked was used in the worship of Diana, the round bun representing the full moon and the four quarters. After the introduction of Christianity, the cross became a Christian symbol and the Hot Cross Bun became a feature of Good Friday - this year 14 April. In Scotland the Hot Cross Bun is usually more highly spiced than the English variety and has a kenspeckle cross of pastry on the glossy brown surface. Marilyn's recipe makes twelve Hot Cross Buns in readiness for Good Friday.

Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients: 1/2 level teasp sugar: 5 tablesp lukewarm water: 3 level teasp dried yeast: 1 lb strong plain flour: 1 level teasp salt: 1 level teasp mixed spice: 1/2 level teasp cinnamon: 1/2 level teasp nutmeg: 2 oz butter: 2 level tablesp castor sugar: 4 oz mixed dried fruit: 2 oz chopped mixed peel: 5 fl oz lukewarm milk: 1 large egg, beaten: a little extra milk: 2 oz shortcrust pastry: Glaze - 2 tablesp milk: 2 level tablesp sugar.

Method: Dissolve sugar in the water, sprinkle yeast on top. Leave in a warm place until frothy, about 20 minutes. Sift flour, salt and spices. Rub in fat lightly. Stir in castor sugar, fruit and peel. Hollow the centre. Pour milk, egg and yeat liquid into hollow. Mix to soft dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and no longer stickie, about 10 minutes. Cover and put in a warm place until double in size - about 2 hours. Turn on to floured surface, knead until smooth. Cut into 12. Knead each piece into a smooth ball, place on greased baking sheet, cover and leave until almost double in size. Preheat a hot oven ( 220 deg C, 425 deg F, Gas 7 ), centre shelf. Roll pastry out thinly, cut into narrow strips 2 to 3 in long. Brush buns with milk, place pastry crosses on top. Bake 20 - 25 minutes until they sound hollow when tapped on base. Dissolve sugar in milk, boil 1 minute. Brush hot buns with glaze. Cool. Eat and enjoy on Good Friday.

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section

A KIST O FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots Tung

By Peter & Marilyn Wright
(Note: All words underlined in this section are RealAudio links)

aik: oak
Aprile: April
beild: shelter
hyster: stumble; totter
sicht: sight
stour: dust

No weill: unwell

                    In Aprile at the hicht of noon,

                    whan leean hauf-licht there was nane,

                    nae flichtie ferlie was to blame

                    for yon queer sicht: an aik in blume.

frae "On Seein an Aik-Tree Sprent Wi Galls" - Robert Garioch

COMPLETE POEMS

Cuddle Doon
by Alexander Anderson

sleeping child

Click here to listen to this in Real Audio read by Marilyn P Wright

(Alexander Anderson of Kirkconnel, who wrote as "Surfaceman", rose from the ranks as a railway worker to become Librarian of Edinburgh University.)

The Bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
Wi muckle faught an' din;
"Oh try and sleep, ye waukrife rogues,
Your faither's comin' in."
They never heed a word I speak;
I try to gie a froon,
But aye I hap them up an' cry,
"Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon."

Wee Jamie wi' the curly heid-
He aye sleeps next the wa',
Bangs up an' cries, "I wan a piece"-
The rascal starts them a'.
I rin an' fetch them pieces, drinks,
They stop awee the soun',
Then draw the blankets up an' cry,
"Noo, weanies, cuddle doon."

But ere five minutes gang, wee Rab
Cries oot, frae 'neath the claes,
"Mither, mak' Tam gie owre at ance,
He's kittlin' wi' his taes."
The mischief's in that Tam for tricks,
He'd bather half the toon;
But aye I hap them up an' cry,
"Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon."

At length they hear their faither's fit,
An' as he steeks the door,
They turn their faces to the wa',
While Tam pretends to snore.
"Hae a' the weans been gude?" he asks,
As he pits aff his shoon;
"The bairnies, John, are in their beds,
An' lang since cuddled doon."

An' just afore we bed oorsel's,
We look at oor wee lambs,
Tam has his airm roon' wee Rab's neck,
An' Rab his airm roon' Tam's.
I lift wee Jamie up the bed,
An' as I straik each croon,
I whisper, till my hert fills up,
"Oh, Bairnies, cuddle doon."

The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
Wi' mirth that's dear to me;
But soon the big warl's cark an' care
Will quaten doon their glee.
Yet, come what will to ilka ane,
May He who rules aboon
Aye whisper, though their pows be bald,
"Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon."

See Scots Language in our Features Section
for other poems, stories, songs, sayings, jokes and words in the Scots language

SCOT WIT

Enjoy a Scottish Joke every week and listen to it as well

The Last Word

The Minister was noted far beyond the bounds of his Parish for his scholarship and his skill in apt quotation, and one old member had brought a stranger with him to the morning service for what he promised would be a literary feast.

The expectant couple occupied a front pew and no sooner was the Sermon under way when the regular member began making audible remarks to his neighbour; identifying the sources of certain passages in the pulpit discourse.

"Ach - that's a bit o Shakespeare" he would announce. "Ay an that'll be frae Wordsworth" and so on. Interjections and commentary of this kind went on at regular intervals until at last the Minister's patience was exhausted.

Finally in exasperation he leaned over the pulpit and asked "if his brother in the front pew would be kind enough to keep his remarks to himself."

But the disturber was not to be so easily subdued.

"An that" he proudly explained to his fellow worshipper "is a bittie o his ain."

Click here to listen to this joke

Read and listen to Jokes in our Scot Wit section

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP

Don't Miss...

Eighth Annual Speyside Whisky Festival Enjoy Whisky, Music, Food & Fun in Malt Whisky Country.

Eighth Annual Speyside Whisky Festival

Enjoy Whisky, Music, Food & Fun in Malt Whisky Country.