[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

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KIRKDAMDIE FAIE.
e'g
in an amicable manner. The Laird of Schang, a property in the vicinity, i
was noted as a member of this confederacy, and a sturdy brawler at the I
fair. He possessed great strength and courage, so much so that he was |
popularly awarded the credit of being not only superior to all his mortal
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enemies, but to have actually overcome the great enemy of mankind himself.
Like most people of his kidney, Schang could make money, but
never acquired the knack of saving it. He was sometimes, in consequence,
sadly embarrassed. At a particular crisis of his monetary affairs, the Devil,
who, according to the superstition of the time, seems to have been a considerable
Jew in his way, appeared to Schang, and agreed to supply the
needful upon the usual terms.
" Says Cloot, 'here's plenty if yell gang,
On sic a day,
Wi' me to ony place I please
Now jag your wrist, the red bluid gie's
This is a place where nae ane sees,
Here sign your name.'
Schang says, * I'll do't as fast as pease,'
And signed the same."
From henceforth the fearless Schang, as our upland poet goes on to relate,
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had goud in every han'.
And every thing he did deman'
He didna min' how time was gaun
Time didna sit
Auld Cloot met Schang ae morn ere dawn,
Says, *ye maun "
flit.'
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The dauntless smuggler, however, peremptorily refused to obey the suml
mons. Drawing a circle round him with his sword, without invoking \
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either saint or scripture, he fearlessly entered into single combat with his
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Pandemonium
majesty, and fairly beat him off the field. The engage- }
I ment is thus circumstantially described by the veracious laureate of the ;
hills, whose verses, it will be observed, are not very remarkable for beauty \
> or rvthm :—
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" The Devil wi' his cloven foot
Thought Schang out o'er the ring to kick.