The Farmer of Liddesdale 109

sheaves that were on the field. The Farmer asked of him
what he meant? “Thou didst promise me as wagés as
much corn as I could carry with me in one burden-withe,
and here I have it now,” said the Ploughman, as he was
shutting the withe.
The Farmer saw that he would be ruined by the Plough-
_man, and therefore said :

“? Twas in the Mart I sowed,
’Twas in the Mart I baked,
?Twas in the Mart I harrowed.
Thou Who hast ordained the three Marts,
Let not my share go in one burden-withe.”

Instantly the withe broke, and it made a loud report,
which echo answered from every rock far and near. Then
the corn spread over the field, and the Ploughman went
away in a white mist in the skies, and was seen no more.