MR HENDERSON ON THE LOCAL PROVERBS OF BERWICKSHIRE. 101 



adder, who was a tenant in Blackadder East Side, and who is re- 

 membered for his poetical talents and country wit. ** Fair and 

 honest John's" cattle having trespassed upon his neighbour's fields, 

 Mr B. sent him a rhyming epistle, of which the following lines are 

 a specimen :— ^ 



" John o' the Bank, your queys and stots 

 Hae trampled a' my turnip oats ;^ 

 But as you're a good neighbour and famoos dancer. 

 For queys and stots no man can answer." 



• « « « « « 



This same Thomas Blackadder wrote a ballad on Tarn Gordon, 

 the Spittal gipsy, who had ** a lawless love of mutton." This ballad 

 obtained considerable local fame in its day, but it is now forgotten, 



7. " Go to Heckspath, and spean young deils ! '* 



This terrible denouncement is applied on similar occasions as that 

 of *' Go to Birgham !" Heckspath lies on the northern confines of 

 the parish of Gordon. Hecks\ or Hexe signifies a witch or sorceress. 

 " An old Hexe," means an old witch, and is often applied, in a bad 

 sense, to females of the present day. 



8. •* The earliest ha'rst (harvest) that e'er was seen, was seen at 

 Bentydod." 



Bentydod is among the wildest and bleakest places in Lammermoor ; 

 and its harvest was so early that they were shearing there on a New 

 Tear's morning. 



9. •* She's as fu' o' maggots as the bride o' Preston.'* 



We have not been able to learn who the " bride o' PrestorC was ; 

 but we have frequently heard the proverb applied to young women 

 who are capricious and changeable. The bride alluded to, with the 

 bridegroom, and a gallant company besides, were on their way to 

 Buncle, in order to have the marriage ceremony performed. But the 

 bride " took the gee" at a place called B uncle West Mains, and would 

 not proceed a foot further for any persuasions. 



" The bride took a maggot, it was but a maggot. 

 She wadna gang by the West Afains to be married." 



Whether she ever " came to, like the bride o' Winton," we will 

 not venture to say — but it is a most likely result ; and ere the sun 

 had set, we believe the rural musicians would be heard playing after 

 her the bridal tune— 



* Oats sown after turnips. 



t From Haaa (Saxon), a Druidess, or chief priestest. 



