Davit Hugh tae tha Rescue

John McGimpsey Johnston

A wheen o year efter tha tale aboot Davit Hugh Kor’s deuks, aun efter ma Graunfaither’s time, ma Ma still gaut Davit Hugh tae gie hir a haun wae tha odd jab.

Thur wusnae aun affa lauk tae dae aboot ‘Tha Knowe’, acause maist o tha grun wus let. Bit aut this time thur haud bin a lauk o wile, caurse wather aun tha rain cum doon lauk cauts aun dugs fer daes. Sae aboot tha fit o’ ‘Tha Knowe’ en tha leich liein grun, wus a sheuch gaut blokt aun tha watter cudnae git awa. Sae heer wus a jab fer Davit Hugh, tae cleer oot this sheuch.

A wus gettin up a bit noo. A cud a bin sax er seiven aun thocht A wus a maun, sae A went awa doon wae Davit Hugh tae gi him a haun wae this sheuch. Hooiver, A mine aus weel gettin haul o tha drag aun helpin him, aus A thocht, tae pit oot a lauk o tha gutters, weeds aun lang gress aun sich. A’m shair af Davit Hugh cuda gaut tha wurds oot, he wuda chast this waen awa amang hes feet.

Hooiniver, he niver spauk whun A plaid grab wae tha drag, anly ensteed o puin tha drag oot, A pued masel entae aboot thie fit o watter. Bit A cudnae sprauchel ma wey oot masel.

Lukie fer ma Davit Hugh wus a guid bit sherper wae hes feet thun he wus wae hes tounge, fer he gaut a grup o ma bi tha scruff o ma neck aun puet ma oot tae tha broo drooket, en fect, neer droont.

Aus fer aus A mine, aa Davit Hugh sade wus,

“Awa hame noo, boye, tae yer Mither!”

Anither time Davit Hugh wus daein summit aboot yin o tha fences a guid bit fae tha hoose. Et wus wunter time aun gettin daurk bit nae word o Davit Hugh cummin fer hes supper.

Ma Mither wus gettin a bit wurrit aboot ’im, thinkin simthin haud happint tae ’im aun he micht hae bin lak me aun fell entae a sheuch er simit.

Hooiver, et wus neer blak daurk whun tha boye apeert aus richt aus rain, aun whun ma Mither axt ’im whur he haud bin, Davit Hugh says,

“Ach, A jist wrocht tae a cudnae see.”