THE BATTLE AT BOGLE'S
HILL
By John McMenamin
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A ghostly mist obscured the view
'Twas an early autumn fog
And hidden in the swirling mist,
Jordie Tuft and his wee dog.
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The dynamic duo were on the scent
A hunting they did go,
And before the day was over
Bright red blood would flow.
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The canine was called Tiny
He was feared through out the land
And his teeth marks scared the sturdy legs
Of many a brave Postman.
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His owner was one Jordie Tuft,
A simple country man
A devotee of old Pecker Dunn
Yes, Jordie was a fan.
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Wee Tiny stood and sniffed the air
And growled deep in his throat
And Jordie said, "Are you sure yeh boy"
It could be some old goat.
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Then Jordie and his canine chum
Came to a pile of rocks
The canine pointed with his paw
Quite near now was the fox.
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Two foxes watched the hunting pair
As they came into sight,
Then they made a dash for freedom
One ran left and one ran right.
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Wee Tiny leaped upon his prey,
And the deed was swiftly done
Wee Tiny dispatched his quarry
Jordie cried, " Good on you son!".
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The other fox met Jordie
And it ran away to hide,
Jordie leaped on it with arms outstretched
Just like Willie John McBride.
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Now Jordie and the vixen
Are rolling on the ground
And the country man he hold on tight
With his face all bronzed and brown.
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The countryman is panting
With his face all red and bright,
"You're the boy who stole my hens" said he,
"In the middle of the night".
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This is nature's justice
And Jordie is the law
And wee Tiny is the deputy
Armed with tooth and claw.
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"I'll learn you boy" said Jordie
"Not to come into my street",
"You'll pay for this", said the Countryman
With his face red as a beet.
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The vixen never spoke at all
But fought her corner well,
She sank her teeth into Jordie's arm
And the oracle gave a yell.
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When Tiny heard his master cry
He hurried to his side.
The vixen was dispatched with haste
In other words - she died.
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The Countryman lay on the ground
Uttering words that which were quite rude.
Then hurried home to bathe his arm
In a bath of Jeyes Fluid.
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Now, Jeyes Fluid will cure most ills,
But not this time, you know.
And the Countryman with swollen arm
To the doctor then did go.
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"What happened here," the doctor said,
Looking at the swollen hand,
"I was fighting with a fox", said Jordie
"In Farmer Bogle's land".
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"It looks quite bad", the doctor said,
On her face she had a frown.
"Now just bend over that chair", she said
"And pull your trousers down".
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The Countryman felt all exposed
As he lay there oh so meek.
"I'm sure that hurt", the doctor said
"Now turn the other cheek".
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Then the Countryman went for a drink
In a wee pub in the town.
The Countryman stood at the bar,
He didn't feel like sitting down.
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"What happened to you?" the barman said,
Putting money in the till
And Jordie told of the mighty battle,
The battle at Bogle's hill.
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It became then part of folk lore,
The Battle of Bogle's Hill
When Jordie jumped on a vixen,
Sure they talk about it still.
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Yes, Jordie Tuft's a mighty man
And he will get wild thick,
Yes, Jordie Tuft will leap on you,
If you touch his wee chick.
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Now, he sits there by the fire
Listening to the singing thrush
He's on his own, except for Tiny,
-- And a bottle of Black Bush.
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