The Folk from the Wind Wound Isle > Writings, Sayings and Other Bits and Pieces
page 303
My mother, Lottie Dickins, used to play the following action rhyme with my siblings and me when we were children and I have passed it on to my children and grandchildren. As each part of the face is mentioned it is touched with a finger, finishing with a gentle flip of the hand off the top of the head. I was delighted to discover when reading John Nicolson’s Traditional Life in Shetland (p.156), that the rhyme comes from my Shetland heritage.
Garry Gillard in Western Australia knows a slightly different version of the same rhyme and both our versions differ from John Nicolson’s. Presumably our versions have become corrupted as they have been handed down by word of mouth.
Margaret Worrall’s version:
Chin chin cherry
Mooth mooth merry
Nose nose nappick
Ey perri winkle
Brew brew brattick
and a tip off the attic
Garry Gillard’s version:
Chin chin cherry
Mouth mouth murray
Nose nose droppy
Eye penny winky
Brow brow braddock
Tip over nappock
John Nicolson’s version:
Chin chin Cherry
Mooth mooth merry
Nose nose nappie
Eye eye blinkie
Brow brow brackie
An wa ower da tappie
page 304
Another rhyme printed in Nicolson’s book, which my mother also used with us, is designed to get a small child to open its mouth when being fed:
Knock at the door (tap the forehead)
Peep in (two fingers placed beneath the eyes)
Lift up the latch (press the nose)
and walk in (put a spoonful of food in the child’s mouth)
This is almost identical to Nicholson’s version except his is written in the Shetland dialect with ‘da’ for the, and ‘an’ for and.
He’s a Silkie on the sea
He’s a man upon the land
A Silkie is a seal and the expression was used to explain extra marital pregnancies. Marjorie Mathieson, who is the source for this saying, realistically suggests that the term ‘no issue’ is in some cases incorrect.
Courtesy of Majorie Mathieson
You will need - One portion of Shetland smoked cod, butter, flour and milk.
Place a tablespoon of butter in a small saucepan and carefully add the fish.
Simmer slowly for 4 minutes. Do not disturb the fish, as it is very tender and will break easily.
Tilt the saucepan until the butter runs to one side
Add 1 scant dessertspoon of plain flour to the butter, then quarter of a cup of milk (depending on how thick you want the sauce).
Cook gently for about 3 minutes.
Delicious! New Zealand cod can be substituted but does not have the peat smoke flavour of Shetland cod. Health conscious people can use Canola oil instead of butter and skim milk. Still nice, but not as rich.
Some of Grandma Barbara Crouch’s sayings supplied by Alan Ribbons:
1. On leaving after a visit, “Thank you for the rabbit and the goanna oil.”
2. “Do not answer in his own coin."
3. “Do as you will - as that is what will do."
4. “Not all of his puppies bark.", meaning someone is a bit simple.
5. “You can’t catch an old bird with chaff.”
page 305
Nan Robertson to her niece Pixie Robertson on an occasion when Pixie had done something to displease her:
“There but for the grace of God, you'd be gutting herrings m’ girl.”
From Gertie Grace. February 2000 when she was ninety-five:
“I have thought of some other stories that may interest you so will write them down and post at a later date - not too late I hope."
She still has a sense of humour as well as a sharp memory.
Mt Leura’s Fields of Green
Words and music by Robert Robertson
Oh, Victoria’s fairest scenes
Are Mount Leura’s fields of green!
There the lakes in all their wondrous beauty shine.
There an old slab cottage stood In a gently sloping wood
Where I spent my childhood days in sweet delight.
CHORUS:
There the magpies used to carol,
And the grey bears used to snarl,
And the wattle birds all sang a cheerful lay.
My mother dear lived there.
And I can't forget her prayer,
As we gathered round her knee at close of day.
There the lakes more brightly shone,
As the kindly setting sun
Arrayed them all in purple and in gold.
Mount Leura’s fields were green,
With a brighter richer sheen
Than brush or pen or poet ever told.
Oh give me back those days,
With their quaint old fashioned ways,
When the emu and the Yoo were in galore,
With the gaily cracking whip And the pattering hoofs of Snip,
As we chased and played in happy days of yore.
A copy of this song was sent to me by Margaret Haine and I have used the punctuation of that copy. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of the music.
page 306
The following piece also supplied by Margaret Haine, is hand written and signed A Robertson. Comparison with the signatures of the three Arthur Robertsons listed in the genealogy indicates that this piece was written by Arthur Robertson Senior, the one who brought the family to Australia. I think it has quite a modern turn of phrase.
I sat on life’s old window sill
God’s precious light shone in
It lit my soul and changed my will
And healed me of my sin
I often have a weekend trip
To the ocean of God’s love
And have a real refreshing dip
And think of heaven above
My cares soon leave me at the beach
When I gather God’s bright shells
I learn the lessons which they teach
Christ’s chiming, loving bells
This hymn was written by William Adie Robertson and is signed and dated 26.4.1894. He writes that it can be sung to the tune of Annie Laurie. Beryl Oakes supplied a photocopy of the original to me. The punctuation is hard to decipher so I have left it out.
Victory
The cross of Christ is precious
To sinners such as me
For through it I have pardon
Yes I have Victory
Through him who died for me
Through the blood of Christ my Saviour
I have glorious Victory
Though all the World reject Him
And on to ruin will go
I still will trust the Saviour
Because he loved me so
Yes Jesus loved me so
That He died for even me
And through trusting in his merit
I have glorious Victory
So when earth’s cares have ended
And I the cross lay down
To heaven bright ascended
There to receive a Crown
Yes I’ll receive a Crown
From Him who died for me
And through endless years in glory
I will sing of Victory
page 307
A hymn dedicated to his mother, Frances Saunders by her son H McNeil Saunders, for her ministry of song in the General Hospital, Brisbane. A copy of the music, also written by Neil Saunders, is contained in my files.
To The Heart
Do you know that God can save you, Heavy heart?
Do you know His love can change you, Heavy heart?
Your woes and grief He knows full well,
For you He mastered sin and hell,
Your dark confession to him tell,
Heavy heart. Heavy heart.
Do you know that Christ can keep you, Timid heart?
Do you know He will support you, Timid heart?
His word of might all things uphold
His tender grace is still untold,
From His firm clasp who shall unfold,
Timid heart? Timid heart.
Have you heard Jehovah liveth, Doubting heart?
Would you know the strength he giveth, Doubting heart?
Be strong in faith be not dismayed,
Shrink not in armour whole arrayed,
God’s will shall rule though long delayed,
Doubting heart. Doubting heart.
Blessed hope that Christ is coming, Waiting heart.
Though he tarry Christ is coming, Waiting heart.
The sons of God to glorify,
Sin’s cursed sway to nullify,
Waiting Heart. Waiting heart.
Do you know that sin will blight you, Careless heart?
Do you know that God will judge you, Careless heart?
No mercy waits at God’s white throne,
Now is the day his grace is shown,
Christ yearns for you, died to atone,
" Careless heart. Careless heart.
Tenderly God’s spirit woos you, Longing heart.
Yield to Jesus, He entreats you, Longing heart.
Be born anew by trusting him,
Here find sweet rest in serving him,
Till grace one day makes you like him,
Ransomed heart. Ransomed heart.
page 308
Here is another hymn. This one was written by Mrs A E Crouch (Bessie). The copy I have was given to me by Clive Crouch and includes the music. It was issued by the Overseas Mission Department Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania.
O Wondrous Love
O wondrous love revealed to man
By God in His salvation plan,
A world of lost mankind to save,
His own beloved Son He gave.
He came, a babe of lowly birth
And dwelt among us here on earth,
He showed a new life-giving way
To all who will His voice obey.
Yet many souls have never heard
The gospel story in His word,
And still they live mid sin and strife,
With broken heart and empty life.
Lord may our aim forever be
To spend our lives in serving thee’
To heed Thy great commission’s call
And tell Thy wondrous love to all
The following poem was found in grandmother Barbara Crouch’s book. I have typed the poem up as Alan wrote it. I am not sure whether Barbara wrote the poem.
The Party Poem
There’s going to be a party
up in heaven bye and bye
Wont you come with me
Wont you come with me
There will be Jonah, Joseph, Jacob
and Nermaih, Able, Amos, Abraham
and good old Hizkiah
David, Daniel, and brave Nehimiah
Zechariah, Zephaniah, Job, Obadiah
Oh I nearly forgot, Abaniah, Amariah
Wont you come with me.
Wont you come with me.
What a party there will be
Do please come with me
and you know the best of all
Its absolutely free
page 309
The following poem was given to me by Rutherford Robertson. It was written by his grandfather Robert Robertson in 1935, to celebrate Rutherford’s scientific work on the structure of leaves.
Thought About A Leaf
When God created thee wee leaf
In thee He placed a cell
He hid in thee a mystery
which man hast guarded well
Now listen to me little leaf
for sure as you’re alive
I'll find out your secret deep
in 1935
I do not deal with hoof of horse
nor yet with horn of cow
I handle not the ‘Rosie stuff’
I pass the bristly sow
I walk adown phantasmal glades
where God-made looms are weaving
All that all life requires to live
a mystery past believing
Ye little doors which ope and shut
Do tell me all your story
For if you do you wreath my brow
with everlasting glory
But who are you the wee doors asked
who thus your soul should vex
My firm is science Ken it so
and I’m their Mr X
Then the wee doors related all
the story so long hid
And Mr X received the bun
for lifting off the lid
Chislett grave at Port Campbell:
“The road may be thorny and rough but when we reach those pearly gates God will open to us."
On William Robertson's gravestone at Beulah his wife Jane had inscribed Hymn No 740 from Sankey’s hymnal,
“Why what we long for most of all,
Eludes so oft our eager hand;
Why hopes are crushed, and castles fade,
Up there, some time, we’ll understand”
page 310
Words and Music of ‘My Mother’s Prayer’ and The Lifeboat’ by R Robertson
From Sacred Solos.
Garry Gillard | New: 29 March, 2019 | Now: 5 September, 2022