THE GAME FISHES OF THE WOELD 



have nothing to do Tvith them, hating them for their bad character ; but 

 they have planned a snare for the fish, and get the better of them by their 

 fisherman's craft. They fasten red (crimson red) wool romid a hook, and 

 fit on to the wool two feathers which grew under a cock's wattles, and 

 which in colour are hke wax. Their rod is six feet long, and the line is 

 of the same length. Then they throw their snare, and the fish attracted 

 and maddened by the colour, comes up, thinking to get a dainty mouthful ; 

 when, however, it opens its jaws, it is caught by the hook and enjoys a 

 bitter repast, a captive.' 



This is the first mention, I think, of the Eed heckle in 

 literature, and referred to in the well-known lines from ' ZS'orth 

 Country Garlands.' 



' The Bonny Red Heckle. 



' Away frae the smoke an' the smother ! 



Away frae the crush o' the thrang ! 

 Away frae the labour an' pother 



That has fettered our freedom sae lang ! 

 Tor the May's i' fuU bloom i' the hedges 



And the laverock's aloft i' the blue. 

 An' the south wind sings low i' the sedges, 



By haughs that are sUvery wi' dew. 

 Up, angler, off wi' each shackle ! 



Up, gad an' gaff, an' awa' ! 

 Cry, " Hurrah for the canny red heckle. 



The heckle that tackled them a' ! " 



' We'U see if the Shaperton lasses 



Are winsome, as in our young days — 

 If they'U rin to the ringin' o' glasses. 



Or the hit o' the auld merry lays. 

 Oh, we'U shake off the years wi' our laughter, 



We'll wash out om: wrinkles wi' dew — 

 An' reckless o' what may come after, 



We'll revel in boyhood anew ! 

 Up, angler, off wi' each shackle ! 



Up, gad an' gaff, an' awa' ! 

 Cry, " Hurrah for the canny red heckle. 



The heckle that tackled them a' ! " ' j 



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