4 S 1 Wi' joy unfeigned, brothers and sisters meet, Gars3 auld claes look amaist as weel's the new ;— Their master's an' their mistress's command, An' mind your duty, duly, morn an' night! Implore His counsel, an' assisting might; But hark! a rap comes gently to the door: Sparkle in Jenny's e'e, and flush her cheek; Weel pleased the mother hears its nae wild worthless rake. Wi' kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben ;7 The father cracks o' horses, pleughs, and kye. What maks the youth sae bashfu' and sae grave; Spiers-inquires. 5 Eydent-diligent. 7 2 Uncos-uncommon things, news. 3 Gars-makes. Jauk-trifle. 6 Haffins-partly, half. Ben-in. Kye-Cows. 9 Blate and laithfu'-bashful and sheepish. 10 The lave-the rest, others. 1 But now the supper crowns their simple board, That 'yont the hallan2 snugly chows her cood: The frugal wifie, garrulous, will tell, How 'twas a towmond+ auld, sin' lint was i' the bell.5 The cheerfu' supper done, wi' serious face, His lyart haffets wearing thin an' bare; And "Let us worship God!" he says, with solemn air. They chant their artless notes in simple guise; The tickled ears no heart-felt raptures raise; The priest-like father reads the sacred page, With Amalek's ungracious progeny: Or how the royal Bard did groaning lie Beneath the stroke of heaven's avenging ire; Or Job's pathetic plaint, and wailing cry; Or other holy Seers that tune the sacred lyre. Hawkie-cow. 2 Hallan-cottage wall. 3 Weel-hained kebbuck-well-kept 8 Beets-adds fuel cheese. 4 Towmond-twelvemonth. 5 Sin' lint, &c.-Since flax was in the flower. 6 7 Lyart haffets-grey temples. Wales-chooses. to. Perhaps the Christian volume is the theme, How guiltless blood for guilty man was shed; How He, who bore in Heaven the second name, Had not on earth whereon to lay his head: How his first followers and servants sped; The precepts sage they wrote to many a land: How he, who lone in Patmos banished, Saw in the sun a mighty angel stand; And heard great Babylon's doom pronounced by Heaven's command. Then kneeling down, to Heaven's Eternal King, No more to sigh, or shed the bitter tear, : While circling time moves round in an eternal sphere. May hear, well pleased, the language of the soul; Then homeward all take off their several way; And proffer up to Heaven the warm request A line from Pope's "Windsor Forest." From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs, The cottage leaves the palace far behind: O Scotia! my dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent! Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content! And, oh may Heaven their simple lives prevent From Luxury's contagion, weak and vile! Then howe'er crowns and coronets be rent, A virtuous populace may rise the while, And stand a wall of fire around their much-loved isle. O Thou! who poured the patriotic tide That streamed through Wallace's undaunted heart; Who dared to nobly stem tyrannic pride, Or nobly die, the second glorious part, (The patriot's God peculiarly thou art, His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward!) O never, never, Scotia's realms desert; But still the patriot, and the patriot bard, In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard! VERSES LEFT AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE. O THOU dread Power, who reign'st above, When for this scene of peace and love 1 Certes-certainly. 466 STUDIES IN ENGLISH POETRY. The hoary sire-the mortal stroke, She, who her lovely offspring eyes Their hope, their stay, their darling youth, Bless him, thou God of love and truth, The beauteous, seraph sister-band, Thou know'st the snares on ev'ry hand, When soon or late they reach that coast, THE END. |