222 Memoir of the late John Button Balfour. 



" The Sassenach chap they ca' Balfour, 

 Wi' ither five or sax, man, 

 Frae 'yont the braes of Mar cam' o'er, 



Wi' boxes on their backs, man. 

 Some thocht he was a chapman chiel — 

 Some thocht they cam' the deer to steal ; 

 But nac ane saw 

 Them, after a', 

 Do ocht ava' 

 Against the law, 

 Amang the Hielan' hills, man. 



Some folk 'ill tak' a heap o' fash 



For unco little en', man, 

 An' meikle time an' meikle cash, 



For nocht ava' they'll spen', man. 

 Thae chaps had come a hunder mile 

 For what was hardly worth their while : 

 'Twas a' to poo 

 Some gerse that grew 

 On Ben Mc Dim, 

 That ne'er a coo 

 Wad care to pit her mou' till." 



The character of Balfour is well given in the following 

 stanzas : — 



" Balfour he had a mind as weel 



As ony Duke could ha'e, man ; 

 Quo' he—' There's nc'er.a kilted chiel 



Shall drive us back this day, man. 

 It's justice and it's public right; 

 We'll pass Glen Tilt afore the night ; 

 For Dukes shall wo 

 Care a'e bawbee ? 

 The road's as free 

 To you an' me 

 As to his Grace himsel', man.' 



Balfour he wadna fled frae' fire, 



Frae smoke he wadna flee, man ; 

 The Saxons had but a'e desire — 



It was the foe to see, man. 

 Quo' he to them — ' My bonny men, 

 Tak' tent when ye gang down the glen ; 



Keep calm and douce, 



An' quiet as puss, 



For what's the use 



To mak' a fuss 

 Amang the Hielan' hills, men.' " 



