HOW SWEET IS THE GLOAMING. TUNE-"Bonnie Dundee." How sweet is the gloaming, when carelesly roaming, Then by the pure fountain, beside the steep mountain, My heart fondly wishing, its ae darling blessing, Then tho' the sea part us, dame Fortune desert us, * I MY AIN FIRESIDE. HAE seen great anes and sat in great ha's, Mony lords and fine ladies a' cover'd wi' braws; At feasts made for princes, wi' princes I've been, Where the grand shine o' splendour has dazzl'd my een; * This little piece is from the pen of ALEXANDER FULLARTON, soldier, 91st Regiment. It indicates a mind strongly susceptible of the finer sympathies with the sublime objects of nature, and alive to all the romantic tenderness of love. We are not sorry to see the soldier become at times a prey to those feelings he is often called upon, in the way of his duty, to violate with unrelenting apathy. But a sight sae delightfu', I trow, I ne'er spied, O cheery's the blink o' mine ain fireside. Ance mair, gude be thanket, round my ain heartsome ingle, Wi' the friends of my youth I cordially mingle; I may laugh when I'm merry, and sigh when I'm sad. When I draw in my stool on my cosey hearthstane, And mark saft affection glent fond frae ilk e'e; O there's nought to compare wi' ane's ain fireside. THE KEBBUCKSTON WEDDING. AULD Watty of Kebbuckston brae, With lear and reading of books auld farren, What think ye! the body came owre the day, And tauld us he's gaun to be married to Mirren. We a' got a bidding, To gang to the wedding, Baith Johnnie and Sandy, and Nelly and Nanny; He swears and he vows, At the dancing he'll face to the bride wi' his graunie. H A' the lads hae trystet their joes, Slee Willie came up and ca'd on Nelly, Altho' she was hecht to Geordie Bowse, She's gien him the gunk and she's gaun wi' Willie. Wee collier Johnnie Has yocket his pony, And's aff to the town for a lading of nappy, To serve us to eat, Sae with fuddling and feasting we'll a' be fou❜ happy. Wee Patie Brydie's to say the grace, The body's aye ready at dredgies and weddings, Is chosen to scuttle the pies and the puddings. Of ilka thing dainty, Baith lang kail and haggis, and ev'ry thing fitting, Our wizzens to clear, Sae the de'il fill his kyte wha gaes clung frae the meeting. Lowrie has caft Gibbie Cameron's gun, That his auld gutcher bore when he follow'd Prince Charlie, The barrel was rustet as black as the grun, But he's ta'en't to the smiddy and's fettl't it rarely. With wallets of pouther, His musket he'll shouther, And ride at our head, to the bride's a' parading. He'll fire them three roun', Till the hale kintry ring with the Kebbuckston Wedding. And reeling and wheeling, The young anes a' like to loup out o' the body, Tho' sair forfairn, He vows that he'll wallop twa sets wi' the howdie. Sauney M'Nab, with his tartan trews, Has hecht to come down in the midst of the caper, And gie us three wallops of merry shantrews, With the true Highland fling of Macrimmon the pi per. Sic hipping and skipping, And springing and flinging, I'se wad that there's nane in the Lawlands can waff it! And screed till the sweat fa' in beads frae his haffet. Then gie me your hand, my trusty good frien', And join us in ranting and tooming the timmer. We'll haud at the bicker, And lang may the mailing of Kebbuckston flourish, I'se warrant he's bidden the half of the parish. THE LAMENT. TUNE-" Maids of Arrochar." THOU dark winding Carron once pleasing to see, My brave Caledonians lie low on the lee, slain. 'Twas base-hearted treachery that doom'd our undoing,- Farewell ye dear partners of peril! farewell! On thy wrongs, O my country! indignant I ponder.- THE MANIAC'S SONG. HARK! 'tis the poor maniac's song: She looks to yon rock far at sea, And thinks it her lover's white sail, And aye she sings, “ Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby!” Poor Susan was gentle and fair, Till the seas robb'd her heart of its joy, And now her sad "Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby!" Ꮓ |