Scottish Poetry Selection
- The Wally Dug

Many Scottish homes had a "wally dug" (china dog) on the mantlepiece above the fire. In fact, there were often two - one on each side. Here is an anonymous poem about one of them.


The Wally Dug

I aye mind o' that wee hoose that stood on the brae,
Its lum was aye reekin', its roof made o' stray.
The ootside was bonny, the inside was snug,
But whit I mind best o' was the wee wally dug.

It stood in a corner, high up on the shelf,
And keepit an ee on the best o' the delf.
It was washed twice a year, frae its tail tae its lug,
And pit back on the shelf, was the wee wally dug,.

When oor John got mairrit tae sweet Jeannie Blue,
The auld folks they gied him a horse an' a coo,
But when I left the hoose, ma hert gied a tug,
For a' mither gied me was the wee wally dug.

There's an auld saying, 'Ne'er look a gift horse in the moo',
But I looked that wee dug frae its tail tae its broo'
An' a fun' a wee slit at the back o' its lug,
It was stuffed fu' o' notes, was the wee wally dug.

I tain it hame tae oor Lizzle tae pit on a shelf,
An' I telt her the worth o' that wee bit o' delf.
An' we aye feed it yet through that hole in its lug,
It's a guid bit o' stuff, is the wee wally dug.

Meaning of unusual words:
aye=always
brae=hill
lum=chimney
reekin'=smoking
stray=straw
lug=ear
delf=earthenware
gied=gave
moo'=mouth
broo'=brow
fun'=found


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