The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-31
TAlES 0F the BORDERS
nv ynEx MAcrAv wttsov
THE FAA's REVENGE.
TALE OF THE BORDER GIPsIEs.
BY yoEN MAcKAY wills


Brown October was drawing to a close
the breeze had acquired a degree Of sharp
ness too strong to De merely termed bracing
- and the FIRE, as the saying is, was be-
coming the best flower in the garden-for
the hardest and the latest plants had either
shed their ieaves, or their flowers had shriv-
elled at the breath of approaching winter
when stranger drew his seat towards the
psrlOr fire Of the Three. Half Moons inn, 10
Rothbury. He bad sat for the space Of half
an hour when party entered, who, like
himself las appeared from thsir converse
tion), were strangers, or rather visitors Of
the scenery, curiosities, and antiquities in
the vicinity. One of them having ordered
the waiter to bring each Of them . glass OF
brandy and warm water, without appearing
&c notice the presence of the first mentI oned
stranger, after a few remarks on the objects
Of interest in the neighborhood, the follow
ing conversation took place amongst them:
"Whv," said one, "but even Rothbury
here, secluded as it is from the world, and
shut out from the daily intercourse Of men,
is q noted place. 1t was here that the an
cient and famous northern bard and unrival-
led ballad writer, Bernard Rumney, was
born, bred, and died. Here, too, was born
DIR. Brown, who, like Young and Home,
united tie characters of divine and dramat-
ist, and was the author Of 'BErbdrossd,' > The
Cure Of Saul and other works, Of which
posterity and his country are proud. The
immediate ueighborhood, also, was the birth
place Of the inspired boy, the heaven-taught
mathematician, George Coughran, who knew
NJ NJ rrh A 81 - . ~
glory of Newton, but whom death struck
down ere he had reached the years 0f man
hood"
'Why, can't tell" said another; "I
don't know much about what you've been
talking Of; but know, for one thing, that
Rothbury was famous place for every sort
OF games and, at Fastren's E'en times, the
rule was, every male inhabitant above eight
years Of age to pay a shilling, or out to the
football. 1t was noted for it's game cocks,
too-they were the best breed on .he Bor-
ders."
"May be go" said the FIRST speaker "but
though should be loath to see the foot
bali, or any other innocent game which keeps
up manly spirit, put down, yet do trust
that the brutal practice Of cock fighting will
be abolished, not only on the Borders, but
throughout every country which processes
the name OF Christian; and rejoice that
the practice is fast falling into disrepute
But, although my hairs are not yet honored
with the silver tints Of age, am old enough
to remember, that, when boy at school on
the Scottish side Of the Border, at every
FastTen's Zen which you have spoken of,
every Echoolboy was expected to provide .
cock for the battle, or main, and the teacher
or his deputy presided as umpire. The same
practice prevailed on the southern Border
II is very old, savage amusement, even in
this country and perhaps the Preceptors Of
youth, in former days, considered il classi-
cal, and that il would instil into their pupils
sentiments Of emulation; inssmuch a. the
practice Is said TO have taken rise from
Themistocles peTcei.ing two cocks tearing at
sld fighting with each other, while march
Ing his army against the PersIans, when be
called upon has soldiers &c observe them,
and remarked that they neither fought for
territory, defence Of country, nor for glory,
but they fought because the one would not
yield to, or DE defeated by the other; and
he desired his soldiers to take moral les
son from the barn.door fowls. Cock fight
ing thus became among the hsAthen Greeks
a political prscept and . religious observ-
an s--and the Christian Inhabitants Of Brit
ain, disregarding the religious dssd political
moral, kept up the practice, adding TO ii
lore disgusting bArbaris, for Their smase-
menu" k@ssEMN 1nWs
Coon" said q third, who, from bis
tongue, appe red TO be q thorough Northum-
brian, eve wur talking sS5ut Rothbufy, but
you are gcin' to give . regular sarmin on
cock hghting.4 Let's none o. that. . You
was saying whAt Gle 4, chaps had been born
here-but none o'ye mentioned Jamie Al.
Ian. the gypsy apd i rthumberland piper,
who was born her IS Weei a. the best o.
them. But has heaE = that Rothbury, a
weel % Yetholm and TweedmOpth Moor,
vas . great resort for the Faa or gipsy gangs
in former times. Now, understand thal
thAe folk werea sort o. bastard Egyptians
forcibly thAtthe meaning o. the word gipsies
is just Esypts, Or Gspti<sTa contraction and
corruption 2, Gyptiag 70
"Gipsies.s said be Who spoke Of Rdu,ney
aud Bl0wn, and abused tss practice of cock:
hshtihg. ssili DO In some degree, aud farm
FerlJ did Y great npmherA ipfest this csln-
x Z ssd ! WY tsll you story ys'an concerning n
si~Do ao,n sssa TIE ssossugb NsrsAunsvi.o,
'sF line y stosy wkssiss 1ssl pus tAsgAhef
The gpsiss Sers aaeer felk- I've heard ny
taisher tell mApy. 4 fpnpys thing about them
when he used 10 whistle Telton L0anin,
which' was made by avid piper AlIsn-
JamiSrsp nHitheffs Aud ksrs Shst spsakei
sruck uPa lively -, ahish, 70 khs stEangs
by the, 6rs, seemed . sort s0f parody on thl
veikknoWn TIME Of nJoapny Cope.
The otl, Il then Iroceedsd wir6 ffs tale
thus - avn STA sds 10 sssi3iisas1 4
Yoa have all k.Asa sf tAscslshsnksa Jeka
tny Hsa ths Lord aRd Esrl of Liktls vEGIpi
yAa ps9s,ssted iptq SSoslepd p ~ rsiSn I
James Tvs and ylM wIom thht 611hR
monarch wat 3l&d' " sons1a1s q 6as15
Johnny Nssto( sujy ths kinsy shub1hA ~
lefshs FaaGlae thatGs whom W haFe -
ltiQp- ap pQt sAvsre that .Ripsies eok 6
name Of Fses, apyuhers 6dt T5o65 tE5 nj
derS; And though Il h dlalsdls . sseodsi
\ ior tks naGas sstis1asl1rfn, i tDSkfz toInl3
Ihaails s1igia lIpma faRilEa ~ 49, 4
xau ~ yAaE1i4 - q ~ II