Tha Thie A’Clack Tay en tha Hey Fiel

John McGimpsey Johnston

A think et wus tha simmer efter A wus neer droont in tha sheuch (see “Davit Hugh tae tha Rescue”). En tha wee fiel aside tha sheuch thur wus thie er fower o tha nibers ruckin hey aun aff caurse A wus amang thum aus usual. Et’s mair thun lakely A wuda bin drivin tha hoarse en tha hey rake. A wudnae hae bin fit tae hannel tha Tummlin Paddy aut sax er seiven year aul.

Oanywey, aus lang aus A wus warkin wae a hoarse A wus weel eneuch pleest. Tha bigger tha hoarse tha better. Clydesdales wur ma favourites. Tha wur gae quate, muckle bastes, maistly, aun aus lang aus A kep oot fae unnther thur muckle greaut haufs aus big aus a griddle, A wus safe enaugh. Thur wus yin thing aboot thaes muckle feet, thae wur share daith tae aa creepin things, fer aus weel aus tha size o thum a Clydesdale es gae weichty. Thae maun hae bin pairt o a ton. Oanywey, A’m gettin awa fae ma story.

Et wus a terbel waurm aun sinny efternin, aun aff caurse ma Ma bracht oot tha thie a’clack tay. Et tastet thaut guid thaut A niver fergot et tae this day. Thur wus fresh sauda breid jist aff tha griddle wae lashins o hir ain butter aun new gaseberry jaum. Aun aff caurse, a big mug o strang tay tae wesh et doon. Thaut’s mair thaun seiventy year ago, aun A can taste et jist lake et wus yisterday. A caun still taste tha butter aun jaum rinnin oot o’ tha weeks o ma mooth. Boyes, bit et wus guid!

A’m nae shair whuther Davit Hugh Kor wus thur er no. Tha trubel wae ’im wus ef ye didnae see ’im, ye shair wud nae hae heert ’im!

Tae git bak tae tha Clydesdales, thur wus a gae wheen o thae muckle bastes aboot Bellyhie aut thaut time. Tha raesen wus tha fermers roon aboot yaest tae git thum fae tha big firms aboot Bilfaust thaut haud thum fer draain coul cairts aun tha lake. Tha trubel wus thaut efter warkin oan tha haurd caubbles er square setts fer a lauk o year, thur feet gaut sae sair thae cud haurdly maurk tha grun.

Thae wur saul aff tae tha fermers fer twa er thie pun. Acaurse, thae maistly cum aricht whun tae gaut oantae tha saft laun fer a while.

A aye liket tae play wae thum oanywey. Thae made fine toys!

A quare thing wus, A ainly mine haein yin ither toy whun a wus a waen aun thaut wus a wudden hoarse oan fower wheels. Et wus less thaun a fit heich, bit A mine trailin et oot aboot tha close oan a string.

Ye micht think thur wus a gae differs atween this aun a Clydesdale, aun ye cud bi richt. Bit really, tha ainly differs tae me aut tha time wus a haud tae pu tha wee yin alang aun A cud hae a ride oan tha big yin’s bak.

A’ll bi tellin ye mair aboot Clydesdales whun A git big enaugh tae haunnel thum wae lang rines. Et’s wunnerfu hoo A caun git fae gaseberry jaum tae Clydesdale hoarses in nae time ava.