To end the wark, here's Whistlebirck,
Lang may his whistle blaw, Jamie;
And Maxwell true o' sterling blue,

And we'll be Johnstons a', Jamie.

THE FIVE CARLINES.

In this second election ballad the five burghs are presented under figurative characters most felicitously drawn: Dumfries, as Maggy on the banks of Nith Annan, as Blinking Bess of Annandale; Kirkcudbright, as Whisky Jean of Galloway; Sanquhar, as Black Joan frae Crichton Peel; and Lochmaben, as Marjory of the many Lochs-appellations all of which have some appropriateness from local circum

stances.

THERE were five carlines in the south, old women
They fell upon a scheme,

To send a lad to Lon'on town,
To bring them tidings hame.

Nor only bring them tidings hame,
But do their errands there,

1 Alexander Birtwhistle, Esq., merchant at Kirkcudbright and provost of the burgh.

And aiblins gowd and honour baith
Might be that laddie's share.

possibly

There was Maggy by the banks o' Nith,

A dame wi' pride eneugh,

And Marjory o' the Monie Lochs,

A carline auld and teugh..

And Blinking Bess o' Annandale,
That dwelt near Solwayside,
And Whisky Jean, that took her gill,
In Galloway sae wide.

And Black Joan, frae Crichton Peel,

O' gipsy kith and kin

Five wighter carlines warna foun' brisker, stouter

The south countra within.

To send a lad to Lon'on town,

They met upon a day,

And monie a knight and monie a laird

Their errand fain would gae.

O monie a knight and monie a laird
This errand fain would gae ;

But nae ane could their fancy please,
O ne'er a ane but twae.

The first he was a belted knight,'

Bred o' a Border clan,

1 Sir James Johnston.

And he wad gae to Lon'on town,
Might nae man him withstan'.

And he wad do their errands weei,
And meikle he wad say,

And ilka ane at Lon'on court
Would bid to him guid-day.

Then next came in a sodger youth,1
And spak wi' modest grace,
And he wad gae to Lon'on town,
If sae their pleasure was.

He wadna hecht them courtly gifts,
Nor meikle speech pretend,
But he wad hecht an honest heart

Wad ne'er desert a friend.

Now, wham to choose, and wham refuse,
At strife thir carlines fell;

For some had gentle folks to please,
And some wad please themsel'.

promise

these

Then out spak mim-mou'ed Meg o' prim-mouthed Nith,

And she spak up wi' pride,

And she wad send the sodger youth,

Whatever might betide.

1 Captain Miller.

For the auld guidman o' Lon'on court1
She didna care a pin;

But she wad send the sodger youth

To greet his eldest son.2

Then up sprang Bess o' Annandale,
And a deadly aith she's ta'en,
That she wad vote the Border knight,
Though she should vote her lane.

For far-aff fowls hae feathers fair,
And fools o' change are fain;
But I hae tried the Border knight,
And I'll try him yet again.

Says Black Joan frae Crichton Peel,

A carline stoor and grim,

"The auld guidman, and the young guidman,

For me may sink or swim.

8

"For fools will freit o' right or wrang,

While knaves laugh them to scorn;

But the sodger's friends hae blawn the best, So he shall bear the horn."

Then Whisky Jean spak owre her drink,

"Ye weel ken, kimmers a',

gossips

8 Talk superstitiously.

The Prince of Wales.

1 The King.

The auld guidman o' Lon'on court
His back's been at the wa';

"And monie a friend that kissed his cup

Is now a fremit wight:

But it's ne'er be said o' Whisky Jean
I'll send the Border knight."

Then slow raise Marjory o' the Lochs,
And wrinkled was her brow,

Her ancient weed was russet gray,
Her auld Scots bluid was true;1

estranged

"There's some great folks set light by me I set as light by them;

But I will send to Lon'on town
Wham I like best at hame.

"Sae how this weighty plea may end
Nae mortal wight can tell :
God grant the king and ilka man
May look weel to himsel'."

1 It may not be unworthy of notice that this verse was one in great favor with Sir Walter Scott, who used to recite it with good effect.