RATANUI.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 71, 13 March 1914, Page 6

RATANUI.

A SCREED FRAE SCOTTY. Maiser Eeditor, just a wliecn notes tao let ye ken hoo we're getting on dooit this way. Weel, "in the first place, the ■weather has been grand—fine warm days, a nice shoor o' rain noo and again just tae freshen up the bits o : crops, ■which at the present arc looking unco weel, especially the turnips, which arc a knappin and' heiioan in the drills.

The sawmillcis and their men, the milk suppliers and a wheen inair folk agreed thegither tae hac a picnic. Wed, they elected a chairman, llughie White, and a. brither o' his secretary, and a working committee, and they got the lend o' a field frae an auld crony, Davie Dewar, wha has a bonnie fairni on the brae face a wee bit roon frae the auld brig that spans the McKenzic burn. Weel, the day was Saturday, and a braw day it was. I dandered awa' roon bye in the forenoon to be in plenty o' time. It was nac Jang till the folk began tae gaithcr frae a' airts the wiend can blaw, sonic wi' gigs, some wi' shanks' pony, and wheen riding some bonnie powuies. There was sure a gie big gathering, in a' aboot two liunncr big anes and wee aues. The boiler was sune boiled, and the committee, some wi' [tails, some wi ' jugs, gaed roon ami roon amang the folk gacing them tae, and the braw lassies helping wi' tae, wi' cakes, saudwiches and cookies. Aifter denner the fun began wi' the wee lassies and laddies running races; then there was a race for the lassies wha had left gaun tae the sehule a wheen syne, Ma consliuns, Mr Eeditor, if ye had seen the race —siccan a spinner! .Jean McKechnie cam in an easy winner, and a wheen mair ahint her juist aboot as gude. 1 think the next race was wi' young fellows —Rabbic Findlater first and the calhnt Williamson second. Next was a hop, step and a louji; Hughic McKechnie, a big strapping loon, beat them a' wi ' aboot four feet. Next event was the pole luup, won by Jack Mcl.'lay, wi ' his blither Jim second and Dickie Burney a gie gude third, somewhere aboot eight feet six inches for the winner. Then there was the auld buffers' race; Wully Williamson wi' his three score and ane years came in, wi' Hugh McKechnie second and Geordie Overton third. Then the married women's race was awiii' weel contested; Mrs McTaggart first prize and Mrs McDonald second. Then there was half a score o' muckle strapping cliiels got sonic bits o' logs ready for a chopping match, Graham Dawson and the schulemaister handicappcrs; awa' they started in gran' style, and siccan a clattering wi' the aixes yc never heard the like o't; weel, the first fell tae Jimmy Allen, the muckle buirdly loon Hughic McKechnie was next wi' juist a chap or two ahint Jimmy, and Billy Williamson juist aboot the same; some o' the ither loons chopped awfu' weel—Hughie White, Tammy C'alaglian, Jim Williamson, and I dinna ken the ither anes' names. After that we sauntered awa' up the brae and had aftornune tea, an' ma consliuns, was there no some awfu' nice cakes and cookies for that same aftcrnunc tea? A think the maist o' them was weel pleased wi' their picnic, an' was sune on their way hame tae milk the coos, for ye ken they maun be looked after.

At the foot o' Warnock Hill There rows a boiinic burn, Ayont the burn works a big sawmill, With many a whirr and turn. Hugh Mi'Kecliiiic is the sawver bold, Wi' Kali MrTaggart for a. mate; Thoy work hard, so we are told, To turn oot tallies big and great. Kab Warnock on the engine wheel, And Snider at the slabs, Jimmy Allen on the trolley Hauling logs among the dirt and dabs. Boss McKcohnie, he is on the plane, .lust dressing a one by four. While long-legged Johnny come again To sweep the shavings off the floor. Kali Kilgour, he is on the hand-saw, "With his mate on the tally— As good a two as ere you saw For getting up a rally. Billy Williamson on the crosscut, too, And his mate with the axe, Ho stands upon the logs to true, And gives some terrible whacks. Jim McClay upon the tramway, Graham Dawson with a stick, Jack McClay upon the shovel Shows many a bonnie trick. When Carpenter Chips is building huts He is all alone in his glory, For lie builds his staging on patent struts, And that is the end of mv story.

Man, 1 was gie near forgetting aboot the dance the young folk had in the wee hall. The music was frae Win Cheyne's fiddle and an accordeon; there was juist rather big a crush for a wee place likeyon woe hall. I think if the folk in the dec-strict was tae pu' a thcgithor and try and get a public hall it would be very handy for many, dock McKechnie made the tea for the dancers, and, ma eertio, they needed it efter siccan a warm time at the dance. Weel, Johnnie, ye will be gie handy when we get a wee wifie o' yer ain tae help her wi' the lioose wark. ] think that is aboot a' the news juist noo; oor next will be the kirk social. Ta-ta, thac noo. SCOTTV, Katanui.