NUMMERIN THE WEANS
Nane an Ane jouked oot their lane
Jalouse wha they saw, Tammie Twa
Ane an Twa ran up the Reid Raw
An suppit the bree wi Senga Three
Twa an Three flew like bumbees
An chappit the door o Guidwife Faur
Three an Faur fared ower the glaur
Groggies tae rive frae Fiona Five
Five an Sax went tae the stacks
An gaithered the gleanins fur Struan Seeven
Sax an Seeven, heavy breathin
Stravaiged an socht fur Oona Ocht
Seeven an Ocht, sair they wrocht
At the heid o the mine fur Gaffer Nine
Ocht an Nine, loused at dine
Tae bed went ben when tauld bi Auld Ten
Auld Ten an Nane restit their banes
The lee lang nicht till it wis bricht
Then stairtit the Yowl tae girn an growl
“Rise up an flee, fur the dominie
Is coontin pates,dinna be late
For ah’m peelin nine, louns an quines!”
An ilka young nummer in the Raws
Ran faist tae schule tae dodge the Tawse
The numbers are as said by Ewan’s grandfather High Reynolds, who lived in Plean Reid Raw of red brick miners’ cottages.