In the beginnin' I was no a miner, ye ken, in the pit at Hamilton.

I went doon first as a miner's helper, but that was for but the one week.

And at its end my gaffer just went away.

He was to pay me ten shillings, but never a three-penny bit of all that siller did I see! It was cruel hard, and it hurt me sore, to think I'd worked sae long and so hard and got nothing for it, but there was no use greetin'.

And on Monday I went doon into the pit again, but this time as a trapper.
In a mine, ye ken, there are great air-tight gates.