A SCOTSMAN’S LAY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXIII, Issue 3249, 6 February 1933, Page 2

A SCOTSMAN’S LAY.

’Twas on a summer’s morning more than a year ago. My sister and I went hiking with thirty friends or so. The day was hot and sunny, (in Mona’s Isle we were), * So to the Snaefell summit we climbed without a care. Electric railway scorning, we hiked it with our guide— A tall and long-legged Scotsman right up the mountain side. Up to the top we clambered and there did feast our eyes On mountain, moor and river, and wide expanse of skies. At last on downward journey we started jauntily. Behind us, mountain vastness, before —a nice big tea! When halfway down our Scotsman collected us around. And said he’s had a brain wave—a nice new route he’d found. Across the moors we turned then, Instead of straight ahead. Quite happily we started, and followed where he led. Alas! we soon discovered to our regret and woe. The ground knee deep in thistles, through which we had to go. And nettles there abounded full four feet high, I’ll bet. What we had done to suffer thus I am wond’ring yet. So painfully we slithered and jumped, and sprang and yelled; But those in shorts said bad words which better are withheld. At last we reached the valley, sore of foot and sore of mind, But there beheld a streamlet, which wasn’t a lucky find. A tree trunk bridged the water; we scrambled over this. And hope that through the late hour our tea we wouldn’t miss.