Martin the shepherd — and he wrung his hands in the bitterness of agony, “the thieves, the harrying thieves I not a cloot left of the haill hirsel!” ❋ Unknown (2008)
Through the friendly partiality of our employer, I was made principal shepherd at an age considerably younger than it is usual for most others to be intrusted with so extensive a _hirsel_ [1] as was committed to my care. ❋ Various (N/A)
'Effie that was marrit on puir Jock Ord -- a fine laddie he was -- verra knowledgeable wi' sheep, wha perished in a snowstorm, mindin 'his hirsel. ❋ Howard Pease (N/A)
Now three figures emerged from the inn; a tall, thin man came first -- a collie at his heels -- that was at once sent off to round up a hirsel of ewes on the hill. ❋ Howard Pease (N/A)
When by and by I went to herd the _hirsel_ which my father formerly tended, like most other regular shepherds I delighted in and was proud of the employment. ❋ Various (N/A)
A considerable portion of another _hirsel_ lying contiguous, and which my elder brother herded, was for the summer season of the year added to mine, so that this already large was made larger; but exempted as I was from attending to aught else but my flock, ❋ Various (N/A)
Besides, I behooved to be round the hirsel this morning, and see how the herds were coming ontheyre apt to be negligent wi their footballs, and fairs, and trysts, when anes away. ❋ Unknown (1917)
And Ill take care o the bits o claes, and what spending siller she maun hae; so the hundred pound may rin on in your hands, Mr. Protocol, and Ill be adding something tillt, till shell maybe get a Liddesdale joe that wants something to help to buy the hirsel. ❋ Unknown (1917)
'She thowt she heerd soombody fleytin' and callin '-- it was t' wind came skirlin 'round t' place, an 'she aw' but thrown hirsel 'oot o' t 'bed, an' aa shooted for Jim, and they came, and they and I-- it's bin as much as we could a 'du to hod ❋ Humphry Ward (1885)
The black man answered never a word; he got upon his feet, an 'begude to hirsel to the wa' on the far side; but he aye lookit at the minister; an 'the minister stood an' lookit back; till a 'in a meenute the black man was ower the wa' an 'rinnin' for the bield o 'the trees. ❋ Various (1878)
We walked to Peebles, and then up Haystoun Glen to the cottage of Adam Cairns, the aged shepherd of the Newbie hirsel, of whom we knew, and who knew of us from his daughter, Nancy Cairns, a servant with Uncle ❋ John Brown (1846)
The old shepherd went carefully from drove to drove, till he found a _hirsel_ likely to answer their purpose, and {p. 005} then returned to tell his master to come up and conclude the bargain. ❋ Unknown (1824)
Liddesdale joe that wants something to help to buy the hirsel. ❋ Walter Scott (1801)
"We are broken and beggared now, out and out," said old Martin the shepherd -- and he wrung his hands in the bitterness of agony, "the thieves, the harrying thieves I not a cloot left of the haill hirsel!" ❋ Walter Scott (1801)
And I'll take care o 'the bits o' claes, and what spending siller she maun hae, so the hundred pound may rin on in your hands, Mr. Protocol, and I'll be adding something till't, till she'll maybe get a Liddesdale joe that wants something to help to buy the hirsel. ❋ Walter Scott (1801)
Besides, I behooved to be round the hirsel this morning and see how the herds were coming on; they're apt to be negligent wi 'their footballs, and fairs, and trysts, when ane's away. ❋ Walter Scott (1801)
_Hersel-hirsel_, a flock of sheep, also a herd of cattle of any sort. ❋ Robert Burns (1777)
