ORIGINAL POETRY.

Southland Times, Issue 630, 11 February 1867, Page 3

ORIGINAL POETRY.

OLD SCOTS SAYINGS. AYE KEEP THE CANTLE O' THE CAUSEY. By John G-. Smith. ("Every Scotchman knows that this means to i act at all times with an independent spirit, to do nothing of which one may be ashamed, or ! which, may cause him to shun the public gaze. Jamieson interprets ifc as " appearing with credit and respectability." But its real signification is infinitely stronger than that, and a better idea of it may be obtained by one or two quotations than front any lexicographers definition. ' " Few wi ' Donald could compare To keep the can tie o' the causey." Webstee. " When he's fou' he's stout an' saucy, Keeps the cantle o' the causey." Sra W. Scott.] I. What makes you look sac' dung wi' wae, An' heed what clashin' haverils say, An' jink round corners o' the street, A? if some ghaist ye thought to meet, An' cower as if some great mishap Had lichted down upon yere tap ; Haud up yere head, look blithe an' massy An' keep the cautle o' the causey. n. What ! shall the lordling o' this earth, Whose only virtue's pride o' birth, Look up erect — his whiskered face, An' stride wi' assinine grimace, While you, the honest toil-worn wight, . Who in this world's hot battles fight, Hing down yere head, no, stern an gaucy Aye keep the cantle o' the causey. m. What tho' ye toil frae' day to day, What tho' yere coat be hodden gray, What tho' yere fare be poor an' scant, Just hoverin' on the brink o' want r What tho' auld fortune ruthless dame, Has reived ye o' a titled name An' sparklin' wine in gowden tassie, Aye keep the cantla o' the causey. IV. The mind's the man, the man's the mind, The body's but the rind shrivelled. The husk, the shell, that soon must lie, Trode down by every passer by, Then .bravely spurning earth-born pride, ■y.- ■ Wi' truth and honor by yere side, Tbo' foci may mock, and friends look saucy, Aj%' keep tii© oaotle o' tbe causey,