The Little Brown Bulls
1.
Not a thing on the river McCluskey did fear
As he swung his goad-stock o'er the big speckled steers;
They were long, fat and thick, girt in eight foot and three —
" Ha! Ha! " said McCluskey, " the laddies for me. "
Darry down, down, down, darry down.
2.
The next came bold Gordon, whose skidding was full;
He would bet two to one on his little brown bulls;
They were short, thick, and soggy, girt in six foot and nine,
" Not fit, " said McCluskey, " to handle our pine. "
Darry down etc.
3.
Oh, three to the thousand our contract did call,
Our skidding was good and our lumber was tall;
McCluskey he swore to do the day full,
He'd skid two to one, to the little brown bulls,
4.
" Oh, no " said bold Gordon, " that trick you can't do,
Though I very well know you've the pets of the crew;
But mind you, my boy, you'll do the day full
If you skid a log more than the little brown bulls. "
5.
A day was appointed and soon did draw nigh
With twenty-five dollars their fortunes to try;
All eager and anxious next morning was found,
While judges and scalers appeared on the ground.
6.
The first came McCluskey, with a whoop and a roar,
And his big speckled steers with a cud in their jaw;
" It's chewing your cud, boys, and keep your jaw full,
And we'll easily beat them, the little brown bulls. "
7.
The next came bold Gordon, a pipe in his jaw,
And the little brown bulls with a cud in their maw;
But little we thought, as we saw them come down,
A hundred and forty they would swing around.
8.
Said McCluskey to Sandy: " Now strip to the skin,
We'll dig them a hole and we'll shove 'em therein;
We'll teach the damned Yankees to fear the brave Scot,
We'll mix them a dose, boy, and give it to them hot. "
9.
Says Gordon to Griffin, with blood in his eye:
" This day we will conquer McCluskey or die. "
Says Kennebec John: " My boy, never fear;
You ne'er shall be beat by the big speckled steers. "
10.
The sun it went down and our foreman did say:
" Come in, lads, come in; it's enough for the day;
We've counted and scaled for each man and his team,
And we very well know just which one tips the beam. "
11.
When supper was over McCluskey appears
With a belt ready made for his big speckled steers;
He meant to conduct it according to law,
So he went and tore up his new mackinaw.
12.
" Hold on, " said our scaler, " hold on for awhile,
For your big speckled steers are behind just a mile;
You've skidded a hundred and ten and no more,
While Gordon has beat you full ten and a score. "
13.
Then the shanty did ring and McCluskey did swear,
By the handfuls he tore out his long yellow hair.
He stepped up to Gordon; " The colors we'll pull, "
Saying, " Here, take the belt for your little brown bulls. "
14.
Here's a health to bold Gordon and Kennebec John,
For the best day's work on the river ever done.
So fill up your glasses and fill them up full
And we'll all drink our health for the little brown bulls.
Not a thing on the river McCluskey did fear
As he swung his goad-stock o'er the big speckled steers;
They were long, fat and thick, girt in eight foot and three —
" Ha! Ha! " said McCluskey, " the laddies for me. "
Darry down, down, down, darry down.
2.
The next came bold Gordon, whose skidding was full;
He would bet two to one on his little brown bulls;
They were short, thick, and soggy, girt in six foot and nine,
" Not fit, " said McCluskey, " to handle our pine. "
Darry down etc.
3.
Oh, three to the thousand our contract did call,
Our skidding was good and our lumber was tall;
McCluskey he swore to do the day full,
He'd skid two to one, to the little brown bulls,
4.
" Oh, no " said bold Gordon, " that trick you can't do,
Though I very well know you've the pets of the crew;
But mind you, my boy, you'll do the day full
If you skid a log more than the little brown bulls. "
5.
A day was appointed and soon did draw nigh
With twenty-five dollars their fortunes to try;
All eager and anxious next morning was found,
While judges and scalers appeared on the ground.
6.
The first came McCluskey, with a whoop and a roar,
And his big speckled steers with a cud in their jaw;
" It's chewing your cud, boys, and keep your jaw full,
And we'll easily beat them, the little brown bulls. "
7.
The next came bold Gordon, a pipe in his jaw,
And the little brown bulls with a cud in their maw;
But little we thought, as we saw them come down,
A hundred and forty they would swing around.
8.
Said McCluskey to Sandy: " Now strip to the skin,
We'll dig them a hole and we'll shove 'em therein;
We'll teach the damned Yankees to fear the brave Scot,
We'll mix them a dose, boy, and give it to them hot. "
9.
Says Gordon to Griffin, with blood in his eye:
" This day we will conquer McCluskey or die. "
Says Kennebec John: " My boy, never fear;
You ne'er shall be beat by the big speckled steers. "
10.
The sun it went down and our foreman did say:
" Come in, lads, come in; it's enough for the day;
We've counted and scaled for each man and his team,
And we very well know just which one tips the beam. "
11.
When supper was over McCluskey appears
With a belt ready made for his big speckled steers;
He meant to conduct it according to law,
So he went and tore up his new mackinaw.
12.
" Hold on, " said our scaler, " hold on for awhile,
For your big speckled steers are behind just a mile;
You've skidded a hundred and ten and no more,
While Gordon has beat you full ten and a score. "
13.
Then the shanty did ring and McCluskey did swear,
By the handfuls he tore out his long yellow hair.
He stepped up to Gordon; " The colors we'll pull, "
Saying, " Here, take the belt for your little brown bulls. "
14.
Here's a health to bold Gordon and Kennebec John,
For the best day's work on the river ever done.
So fill up your glasses and fill them up full
And we'll all drink our health for the little brown bulls.
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