THE SAWYER 



The Sawyer 



The imaginary catastrophe, which is the subject of the following lines, 

 originated in the warning given by one of our party to the Factor at Aber- 

 geldie, that, if he persisted in felling timber during the term of our lease, he 

 must hold himself responsible should any one " shoot a Sawyer." 



I 



NOW Abergeldie gillies, as they range our forest- 

 ground, 

 See sawing here, see sawing there, see sawpits all 



around ; 

 In fear and dread, as on they tread no whisky dare 



they touch. 

 No ! not a drop, lest, neck and crop, they take a 

 drop too much. 



II 



" Aim straight to-day, my comrades, 'twill be truly 



a dear hit 

 If, shooting deer in the forest here, manslaughter 



you commit ; 

 If feller, fell'd, should in the act of striking be down 



struck. 

 Or Sawyer kick the bucket here, mistaken for a 



Buck." 



Ill 



Vain words ! forth came a bounding stag, his antler'd 



head on high. 

 And, caring not a whistle for the balls that whistled 



by. 



