Select Poetry.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 891, 23 March 1877, Page 3

Select Poetry.

THE RAID OF THE M'NAB. A HIGHLAND LEGEND. Donald M'Nab was a Hielan' chief, Some ca'ad him a hero, mair ca'ad him . a thief ; But though he micht lift a wheen cattle, what then ? He had to provide for Borne sax score and ten— • Aiblins ane or twa mair, o' his Hielandmen, " Blaw up a pibroch, my pipers a', Reach me my claymore from aff the wa' ; I'm gaun to lift a wheen cattle, what then \ I hae to provide for some sax score and ten— O' a bletherin' tale o' my Hielandmen." Ronald M'Tab was a chieftain tae, Wha fand what he^could baith by nicht and day ; For he had to seek spuilzie ye see, noo and then, To fill up the wames o' aome sax score and ten— O' his wild and unceeveleezed Hielandmen. O, but the M'Tab got a *air, sair fricht, Aa he louped frae his bed in the simmer nicht, For the atot frae the hillside, the sheep fraa the glen, The cock frae the roost, and the clockin' hen Were harried awa by M'Nab's Hielandmen. Eh, then the M'Tab gied an awfu' roar, And a terrible Hielan' vengeance swore, Sac, ca'ain' his gillies and pipers ben, Says he, "Catch that fulthy M'Nab, and we'll then Hang him, and a score o' his Hielandmen." The michty chief then marchit awa' At the head o' his gillies and pipers braw, And they vowed that the haill o' the world should ken The vengeance they took on {their enemies, when They caught Donald M'Nab and hia Hielandmen. The chieftain M'Nab was just takin' a gill O' whusky, to keep oot the mornin' chill, When he heard awa' doon in the deep fir glen The drone o' the pipes, and, listening, then The tramp o' M'Tab and hia Hielandmen. At once he summoned his henchmen bauld, Gillies and pipers, baith young and auld, And they, marchin' awa' to the deep fir glefl 4 Focht the day — just rested a wee, and then They focht the hale nicht wi' M 'Tab's Hielandmen. When the morn cam' in bauld Donald M'Tab— Was alive, and aae was auld Ronald M'Tab— But as for their henchmen, ye weel may ken Around them baith in the deep fir glen Lay the bodies o' their braw Hielandmen. Says Ronald M'Tab, " We needna kill Each other — my certie, Isa gotten ma fill 0 fechtin' the day, ye ace, and then As we baith hae lost a' oor Hielandmen 1 think we n&d petter gang hame again." William M. Morjson.