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05 Jan 01 - 10:44 PM (#369482) Subject: When ah wis young From: little john cameron When ah wis a youngster ah used tae read stories aboot a wee boy caed McGregor.Noo ah know some o ye are Scots so ah wis thinkin mibbe ye wid like tae read a wee story aboot a visit tae Calderpark Zoo.It is awfy heavy on the Glasgow dialect so it micht no be suitable tae non Scots. Ah'll post it if ye want.So ah'll wait an see the response.If ye don't want it that's ok,ah'll no be upset. ljc |
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05 Jan 01 - 11:08 PM (#369493) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Amergin Go for it. BTW I'm surprised to hear that you remember when you were young.... |
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05 Jan 01 - 11:37 PM (#369508) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: katlaughing Of course Amergin has no memory, as of yet! **BG** I'd love to read it, ljc. kat |
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06 Jan 01 - 12:26 AM (#369530) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Jimmy C LJC go for it, I would love to hear it. Got your PM and will respond soon. |
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06 Jan 01 - 02:48 PM (#369814) Subject: Add: A VISIT TO THE ZOO (by J.J. Bell) From: little john cameron A VISIT TO THE ZOO by J.J. Bell originally published in the Evening Times, 1901 "Paw," said Macgregor, as the family party turned out of Sauchiehall Street into Cambridge Street, "Paw, whit wey dae they ca' it the Zoo?" "Deed, Macgregor, ye bate me there," returned Mr Robinson, "Lizzie," turning to his wife, "Macgregor's speirin' whit wey they ca' it the Zoo." "Macgregor's aye speirin'," said Lizzie. "If they didna ca' it the Zoo, whit wud they ca' it?" "Weel, that's true," observed her husband. "But it's a queer word, Zoo; an' the mair ye think o' 't, the queerer it gets. I mind I yinst ---" "Paw, wull we suin be there?" inquired his son, whose philological craving was apparently neither severe nor lasting. "Aye, ye'll be there in a meenit. Lizzie, are ye shair it's a' right aboot takin' wee Jeannie in to see the beasts? I doot she'll be frichtit." "Frichtit? Nae fear, John! Wee Jeannie's no' that easy frichtit. Losh me! When the meenister wis in the hoose on Wensday, wee Jeannie wisna a bit feart - wis ye, ma doo? She jist laucht til hin, an' played dab at his e'e wi' the leg o' her auld jumpin' jake. Mr Broon wis fair divertit, an' gi'ed her yin o' his cough lozengers. Na, na, John; she's no' that easy frichtit." "Aweel, ye ken best, Lizzie. See, gi'e her to me." "Oh, I'll haud her till we get inside. She'll suin be walkin' her lanesome - wull ye no', honey? Jist keep a grup o' Macgreegor, John, or he'll be fleein' awa' an' gettin' rin ower or wannert." "Paw," said Macgregor, "I see the Zoo." "Ay, thon's it. Ye never seen wild animals afore, Macgreegor." "I near seen wild beasts in the shows at the Lairgs, Paw." "Aw, ay; ye wis bidin' wi' yer Aunt Purdie then. She wud be feart to gang in whaur the beasts wis." "Aunt Purdie's an auld footer," said Macgregor. "Whisht, whisht!" interposed his mother. "Ye're no' to speak that wey aboot yer Aunt Purdie. She's a rale dacent wumman...John, ye sudna lauch at Macgregor's talk; ye jist mak' him think he's clever." "Aw, the wean's fine, Lizzie. Weel, we'll get across the road noo." "Whit wey ---" began the boy. "Macreegor, tak' yer Paw's haun'. I'm no' wantin' ye to be catched wi' yin o' thae electric caurs," said his mother. The street was crossed without mishap, and presently the quartet found themselves within the Zoo. For a couple of minutes, perhaps, they paused on the threshold, uncertain which direction to take. Then the announcement made by an official in a loud voice to the effect that a performance by the lions and tigers was about to take place on the west side of the building sent them hurrying thither with the crowd, Macgregor for once in his life being too overcome for speech. Beyond sundry ejaculations, little conversation took place while the trainer exhibited his pluck and command over the brutes; and it might have been observed that Macgregor never once made the slightest attempt to withdraw his fingers from the fatherly clasp. "Mercy me! It's maist wunnerfu'!" exclaimed Lizzie, when it was all over. "Dod, it bates a'!" said John, as he took wee Jeannie from her arms. And a small voice at his side whispered, "I wisna feart, Paw!" "Macgregor's sayin' he wisna feart, Lizzie," said John to his wife. "Maybe he wisna," returned Lizzie, "but I can tell ye I wis a' shakin' when thae muckle beasts wis loupin' aboot the man. I wis wunnerin' whit I wud dae wi' wee Jeannie if ony o' the beasts wun oot the cages an' commenced fur to pu' the heids an' legs aff the folk" "Och, wumman, there nae fear o' that." "If a beast wis comin' fur to pu' ma heid aff," remarked Macgregor, who had grown suddenly bold, "I - I - I wud - I wud gi'e 't a kick!" "Ye're the boy!" said his father. "Ye sudna let him boast like that, John," said Lizzie reprovingly. "Whit wud ye dae, Macgreegor," asked John, with a grin, "if a beast wis efter yer Maw?" "I - I - wud pu' its tail," replied the valiant Macgregor. "And then I wud ---" A loud roar from one of the lions interrupted him and caused him to clutch at his parent. "Aw, Macgreegor," said his mother, "I doot ye wud jist rin awa' an' leave yer Maw to be ett." The boy's lip trembled. "I wudna dae that, Maw," he said solemnly. "Wud ye no', ma dearie?" said Lizzie, her voice softening. "Weel, weel, we'll say nae mair aboot it. Whit's yer Paw an' wee Jeannie efter noo?" "It's an elephant, Maw," said Macgregor, as they overtook the father and daughter, who were admiring the stuffed carcase of a huge elephant. "He's no leevin'," John explained. "He's the yin that had to be shot a while syne." "Whit wey wis he shot, Paw?" "He wis dangerous." "Whit wey wis he dangerous?" "I'm no' jist shair, but a man yinst tell't me the beast wis trampin' on his keepers, an' eatin' the bunnets aff the folk's heids." "Paw, whit's thon big white oosie beast?" "Thon yin? Dae ye ken, Lizzie?" "I've seen pictures like it, John. It's a - oh, ay, it's a Polish bear." "Dod, ay! It wud gey shin polish aff you an' me, wumman," said John, laughing heartily. "Dod, ay!" echoed Macgregor. "Ye're no' to say that," said Lizzie. "Whit, Maw?" "Ye're no' to say 'dod'." "Paw says it, Maw." "Weel, per Paw sudna say it." "Whit wey, Maw?" "Ha'e, Lizzie," said John, handing his wife a catalogue which he had just purchased, "that'll tell ye the names o' the beasts. Whit dae they ca' thon strippit --" "Maw, whit's the name o 'thon spotit yin?" cried Macgregor. "They're baith Hyaenies," replied Lizzie, after consulting the numbers on the cages and the booklet. "Thon big black beast wi' the awfu' tae-nails is the Aswail or Sloth Bear." "Ay, it's jist Aswail it's in its cage," remarked her husband with a chuckle. "My! ye're rale smairt the day, John, wi yer bit jokes. But whaur's Macgreegor?" The youngster was discovered, after some search, at the other side of the building, gazing with an expression of awe at a couple of camels. "Paw, the wee yin's face is unco like Aunst Purdie," he observed. His father guffawed. His mother frowned. "John, I've tell't ye afore no' to lauch when Macgreegor says impiddent things. I wunner at ye!" "But, Lizzie, I cudna help it this time. Dod, I thocht it wis gey like yer brither's guidwife masel'!" "John!" "As shair's daith! It's jist the face she pits on when she's comin' oot the kirk on a wat Sawbath." "Weel, she canna help her face, puir thing!" said Lizzie. "I never cud unnerstaun' hoo yer brither Rubbert cud mairry sic an auld bogle, an' him wi' sic a braw sister." "Hoots, John" Ye're fair aff at the nail the day!" said Lizzie, trying not to smile. "Paw, whit wey ha'e the caymels nae trunks like the ephelants?" "Macgreegor," remarked Lizzie, "ye wud turn Solyman hissel' dementit! Jist luk at the humphs on their backs, an' dinna fash yer--" "Man, ye're a fair divert, Macgreegor!" said John. "Maybe it's because they ha'e nae trunks. See, there a penny fur ye. Awa' to the stall ower thonder, an' get a wheen biscuits fur the beasts." "I'm gaun to feed the elephants," Macgregor announced on his return. "That's richt! See, there's the big yin haudin' oot his trunk... Dod, a biscuit's naethin' to him. Gi'e yin to wee Jeannie an' she'll feed the ither yin." "Is the elephant's trunk jist the same as a man's neb, Paw?" inquired Macgregor. "Ay, jist the same." "Whit wey dae folk no' pick up things wi' their nebs, Paw?" "Aw, haud yer tongue, Macgreegor," said his mother. "John, bring wee Jeannie ower to see the paurrits." The birds having been duly admired and commented upon, Macgregor was again discovered to be missing. This time he was found engaged in making faces at a family of monkeys. "Come awa' frae the nesty things!" cried Lizzie. "I canna thole monkeys, John. Whit'll thon beast be in the watter?" "The number's wan-twinty-nine. "Oh, ay. Common Seal, frae the German Ocean. Ah, but that'll be the wee yin. The big yin's a Californian Sea Lion. Macgreegor, here a sea lion!" "It's no vera like a lion, Maw... I see its whuskers! Whit wey has it got nae ooss on its feet?" "Thae things isna feet. Thae's fins." "Whit wey has it nae ooss on its fins, Paw?" "Maybe it cudna soom wi' ooss on its fins." "Whit wey cud it no' soom wi' ooss on ---" "Come awa' an' see this extraornar' beast, Macgreegor," said Lizzie. "The book says it's ca'ed a tapir." "Whit wey is't ca'ed a tapir, Maw?" "Gi'e 't a bit biscuit," returned his mother evasively. "Puir beastie, its lukin' gey doon i' the mooth, is't no', John?" "It's a' that. But I wud be doon i' the mooth, masel', Lizzie, wi' a neb like that on me. See an' no' let it nip yer fingers, Macgreegor." "Whit wey is its neb sae shoogly, Paw?" "Dod, Macgreegor, I'm thinkin' it kens ye. It's wagglin' its neb at ye fur anither bit biscuit." "John," said his wife, "I'll tak' wee Jeannie an' ha'e a sate fur a wee." "Are ye wearit? Wud ye no' like a dish o' tea?" "Och, I'm no' needin' tea, John." "Plenty folk tak' tea when they're no' needin' it. Come on, Lizzie!" Lizzie shook her head and muttered something about "gentry" and "wastry." "I - I got a rise in ma pey the day, Lizzie," said her husband suddenly. "Did ye that, John?" "Ay! Hauf-a-croon." "Deed, I wis thinkin' it wis mair nor naethin' that wis makin' ye sae jokey-like," said Lizzie with a laugh. "Come on, then Lizzie. Here, Macgreegor!" "Paw, whit wey ---" "Aw, ye'll see the beasts again in a wee while. Cud ye eat a pie?" Macgregor drew a long breath. "Could I no'?" he exclaimed, beaming. WEEL THERE YE GO THEN. IT MAKS ME AWFY HAMESICK. IS THERE ONY MAIR SCOTS OOT THERE THAT MIND O THESE STORIES? LJC |
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06 Jan 01 - 04:49 PM (#369893) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Jon Freeman Well LJC that was heavy going - I think I understood about 1 word in 4 - but I enjoyed it all the same. Thanks for posting it. Jon |
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06 Jan 01 - 05:03 PM (#369903) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: R! Thank you, L J C. I had trouble with one word - dod. What does it mean? Rowana |
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06 Jan 01 - 05:09 PM (#369909) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron Ah believe it is a euphemism for God as taking the Lords name in vain was a no-no in THOSE DAYS.If there are any more puzzlers let me know and i will see if i can help though there must be others out there that would know better than me.When you hear this spoken it is a wee bit clearer. llc |
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06 Jan 01 - 07:09 PM (#370013) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Bradypus 'Gin Ah wis a partin, Ah wid lee in Glesca' Read them all, got a copy of 'Wee MacGreegor', but not the others. The above is a family quote that gets wheeled out from time to time. Bradypus, whose middle name is Purdie! |
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06 Jan 01 - 07:37 PM (#370031) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron Bradypus,hae ye got the family resemblance,same as me an wiilie-o hae the nose? ljc |
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07 Jan 01 - 03:17 PM (#370414) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Morticia dod is often scots vernacular for a lump of....i.e. a dod of wood etc. but in this case I think LJC is right in that it's a less offensive form of God.What puzzled me was ooss.....translation please? |
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07 Jan 01 - 03:37 PM (#370417) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron oose,ah wid say is like fur or hair.Ah get oose in mah belly button in the mornin.Sometimes it refers tae lint or dust motes. ljc |
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07 Jan 01 - 03:41 PM (#370418) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Morticia thank you although the bit about the belly button was probably more than I wanted to know *BG*! |
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07 Jan 01 - 03:58 PM (#370430) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron When ah wis wee ah used wonder where it came fae.Ah great childhood mystery.ljc |
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07 Jan 01 - 04:55 PM (#370443) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Morticia Where does it come from? |
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07 Jan 01 - 06:49 PM (#370499) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: pict You know those little balls of wool that gather on old woolen sweaters that's oose or the fluff and dust that gather in the pockets of duffle coats or donkey jackets that's oose.I suppose in the case of men the oose could come from their hairy bellies rubbing fine lint off the bedclothes and it just gathers in their belly buttons:) or am I just haverin'. |
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07 Jan 01 - 07:05 PM (#370511) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron Must hae been the bedclaes as ah didnae hae a hairy belly when a wis a wean. ljc |
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07 Jan 01 - 08:36 PM (#370594) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: pict Ljc have you heard of the word Malam or Malum before?It means moral fibre or mettlesome,having nobility of spirit e.g."There's nae malam in him." or "Lack o' malam" or "That's a man wi' malam". |
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07 Jan 01 - 09:23 PM (#370627) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron Naw Pict,that's a new ane on me.Whit district is it fae? ljc |
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07 Jan 01 - 10:15 PM (#370651) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron nearest ah could find is this MALUM, s. In a ship with English officers and native crew, the mate is called malum sahib. The word is Ar. mu'allim, literally 'the Instructor,' and is properly applied to the pilot or sailing-master. The word may be compared, thus used, with our 'master' in the Navy. In regard to the first quotation we may observe that Nakhuda (see NACODA) is, rather than Mu'allim, 'the captain'; though its proper meaning is the owner of the ship; the two capacities of owner and skipper being doubtless often combined. The distinction of Mu'allim from Nakhuda accounts for the former title being assigned to the mate. |
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08 Jan 01 - 01:55 PM (#370974) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: jonilog Like you Wee John , I read"Wee McGreegor" in the Evening Times when it was reprinted in the 1950's.I bought a book of the stories ten years ago on holiday in Scotland.When I brought it back to Australia I had difficulty reading it aloud to the weans as we had never been in the habit of reading to others in our own style of speech.It was frowned upon at school as "improper".We had totally different ways of speaking to the teacher and talking to mates. Thanks for that John.My own book has long since fallen to bits from being read and reread.How aboot giein us some mair? |
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08 Jan 01 - 03:42 PM (#371044) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron Ah hae ane o the buiks[books] caed "Wee MacGregor enlists" but ah wid hae tae type it aw oot.Ah'll hae a hunt aboot on the net tae see if there is oney mair. ljc |
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08 Jan 01 - 04:13 PM (#371063) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Diva Loved the "Wee Mc Gregor" stories,even tho' I was too young to read them in the paper. I have one of the books,somewhere. |
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09 Jan 01 - 09:47 PM (#371944) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: little john cameron Ah searched aw ower bit nae mair o macgreegor tae be seen. ljc |
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16 Mar 09 - 12:54 AM (#2589811) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Jim Dixon The book version of the story Little John Cameron posted can be seen in Wee Macgreegor by J. J. Bell [John Joy Bell] (New York and London: Street & Smith, 1903) --or at least it can be seen by us in the US. |
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16 Mar 09 - 01:42 AM (#2589822) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Ebbie I miss the wee man. |
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16 Mar 09 - 05:01 AM (#2589874) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: BobKnight "Dod," is a short form of George. |
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16 Mar 09 - 06:54 AM (#2589912) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Megan L Aye Ebbie he wis somethin special wan o the first tae welcome me tae this site and encourage me tae write as a speak. He is a sad loss to this community |
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16 Mar 09 - 12:33 PM (#2590149) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Jim McLean George Elrick who was born in Aberdeen in 1903 and became the host for the BBC's 'Housewives Choice' where he adopted the catch phrase, Mrs Elrick's Wee Son George. We always called him 'wee Doddy'. |
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16 Mar 09 - 02:35 PM (#2590283) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: eddie1 Hi LJC Great reading the story but dare I, as a mere Edinburgonian, have the temerity to point out that the zoo in question could not have been Calderpark Zoo as the story was published in 1901 and Calderpark Zoo opened in 1947! The zoo was most likely one of the following: Wombwell's Menagerie, Glasgow Green Glasgow Zoological Gardens, Cranstonhill The Scottish Zoo And Variety Circus, New City Road, Cowcaddens Pickard's Noah's Ark, Panopticon, 115 Trongate Wilson's Zoo, 68-76 Oswald Street Calderpark Zoo was never of a high standard and suffered badly from underfunding, especially after Glasgow Council pulled their contribution. It closed unser a cloud some few years back. Eddie |
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16 Mar 09 - 02:39 PM (#2590286) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Megan L Eddie I am sorry to say LJC is no longer with us he was much loved and missed by many |
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16 Mar 09 - 03:02 PM (#2590302) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: eddie1 Sorry for that Megan. There's not enough of us inforeign parts doing missionary work. Eddie |
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16 Mar 09 - 03:04 PM (#2590303) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Megan L Aye :) an ah'll even fogive ye fur bein frae thon awfy place ;) |
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16 Mar 09 - 03:13 PM (#2590313) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: SINSULL What is a neb? There are pictures of LJC in the members section. I believe Spaw claimed he looked like a moonpie. |
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16 Mar 09 - 03:18 PM (#2590317) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: BobKnight Neb = nose. |
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16 Mar 09 - 03:27 PM (#2590328) Subject: RE: When ah wis young From: Megan L Sinsull its whit gets awfy red efter yiv hid a few swallys unlike a bhookie whit only gets rid efter its bin skelpit fur the cheak ye gied me efter the swallys:) *Grabs coat and leaves Ahm sure a kin find ma wey tae the cellar :) |