would reply, "I'll keep your sheep to you when I'm so minded, but I'll
keep my liberty too. Thir's no man can coandescend on what I'm worth."
Clein would expound to him the miraculous results of compound interest,
and recommend investments. "Ay, man?" Dand would say; "and do you
think, if I took Hob's siller, that I wouldna drink it or wear it on the
lassies? And, anyway, my kingdom is no of this world. Either I'm a
poet or else I'm nothing." Clem would remind him of old age. "I'll die
young, like, Robbie Burns," he would say stoutly. No question but he
had a certain accomplishment in minor verse. His "Hermiston Burn," with
its pretty refrain -


"I love to gang thinking whaur ye gang linking,
Hermiston burn, in the howe;"


his "Auld, auld Elliotts, clay-cauld Elliotts, dour, bauld Elliotts of
auld," and his really fascinating piece about the Praying Weaver's
Stone, had gained him in the neighbourhood the reputation, still
possible in Scotland, of a local bard; and, though not printed himself,
he was recognised by others who were and who had become famous. Walter
Scott owed to Dandie the text of the "Raid of Wearie" in the MINSTRELSY;
and made him welcome at his house, and appreciated his talents, such as
they were, with all his usual generosity. The Ettrick Shepherd was his
sworn crony; they would meet, drink to excess, roar out their lyrics in
each other's faces, and quarrel and make it up again till bedtime. And
besides these recognitions, almost to be called official, Dandie was
made welcome for the sake of his gift through the farmhouses of several
contiguous dales, and was thus exposed to manifold temptations which he
rather sought than fled. He had figured on the stool of repentance, for