IV. A Mile an’ a Bittock. Stevenson, Robert Louis. 1913. A Child’s Garden of Verses and Underwoods

Stevenson, Robert Louis (1850–1894). A Child’s Garden of Verses and Underwoods. 1913.

IV. A Mile an’ a Bittock

A MILE an’ a bittock, a mile or twa,
Abüne the burn, ayont the law,
Davie an’ Donal’ an’ Cherlie an’ a’,
An’ the müne was shinin’ clearly!

Ane went hame wi’ the ither, an’ then	5
The ither went hame wi’ the ither twa men,
An’ baith wad return him the service again,
An’ the müne was shinin’ clearly!

The clocks were chappin’ in house an’ ha’,
Eleeven, twal an’ ane an’ twa;	10
An’ the guidman’s face was turnt to the wa’,
An’ the müne was shinin’ clearly!

A wind got up frae affa the sea,
It blew the stars as clear’s could be,
It blew in the een of a’ o’ the three,	15
An’ the müne was shinin’ clearly!

Noo, Davie was first to get sleep in his head,
“The best o’ frien’s maun twine,” he said;
“I’m weariet, an’ here I’m awa’ to my bed.”
An’ the müne was shinin clearly!	20

Twa o’ them walkin’ an’ crackin’ their lane,
The mornin’ licht cam gray an’ plain,
An’ the birds they yammert on stick an’ stane,
An’ the müne was shinin’ clearly!

O years ayont, O years awa’,	25
My lads, ye’ll mind whate’er befa’—
My lads, ye’ll mind on the bield o’ the law.
When the müne was shinin’ clearly!