lished in a collection (The Lark) possessed by Burns, it certainly may be ranked as one of his earliest ef forts. 1 I DREAMED I lay where flowers were springing Gaily in the sunny beam; Listening to the wild birds singing, By a falling, crystal stream: Straight the sky grew black and daring; O'er the swelling drumlie wave. Such was my life's deceitful morning, But lang or noon, loud tempests storming, troubled She promised fair, and performed but ill; 1 Compare Lang or noon loud tempests storming.- Burns. Grow drumlie and dark.—Mrs. C. Though fickle Fortune has deceived me.- Burns. O fickle Fortune, why this cruel sporting? - Mrs. C. I bear a heart shall support me still. - Burns. егр Thy frowns cannot fear me, thy smiles cannot cheer me.Mrs. C. MY NANNIE, O. TUNE- My Nannie, O. The love affairs of the Scottish peasantry were, in those days, and in some measure are still, conducted in what appears a singular manner. The young farmer or ploughman, after his day of exhausting toil, would proceed to the home of his mistress, one, two, three, or more miles distant, there signal her to the door, and then the pair would seat themselves in the barn for an hour or two's conversation. It was a primitive fashion, owing its origin probably to the limited domestic accommodations of early times, and fathers and mothers appear to have found no occasion for visiting it with condemnation. In the parish of Torbolton, Robert Burns both launched into this mode of courtship himself, and helped in the similar courtships of others. . . . . A surviving companion of the poet in these early days, says that he composed a song on almost every tolerable-looking lass in the parish, and finally one in which they were all included. The Nannie of this song was, according to Gilbert Burns, one Agnes Fleming, a farmer's daughter in Torbolton parish; according to Mrs. Begg, Peggy Thomson of Kirkoswald. BEHIND yon hills where Stinsiar flows,1 In subsequent copies, Burns was induced to substitute for the Stinsiar, which has local verity in its favor, the Lugar The wintry sun the day has closed, The westlin wind blaws loud and shill; My Nannie's charming, sweet, and young, Her face is fair, her heart is true, As spotless as she's bonny, O: The opening gowan, wet wi' dew, Nae purer is than Nannie, O. A country lad is my degree, And few there be that ken me, O; But what care I how few they be? I'm welcome aye to Nannie, O. My riches a's my penny-fee, shrik daisy wages And I maun guide it canny, O; carefully But warl's gear ne'er troubles me, world's wealth My thoughts are a' my Nannie, O. name thought to be more euphonious, but which is other wise unsuitable. Our auld guidman delights to view His sheep and kye thrive bonny, O; But I'm as blithe that bauds his pleugh, And has nae care but Nannie, O. Come weel, come wo, I care nae by, But live and love my Nannie, O. TIBBIE, I HAE SEEN THE DAY. TUNE- Invercauld's Reel. Other songs of the period are of a humorous cast, showing that the course of the poet's loves did not always run quite smooth. It was in the following doughty strain that he addressed a neighboring maiden, who chose to consider herself as somewhat too good for him. O TIBBIE, I hae seen the day For lack o' gear ye lightly me, Yestreen I met you on the moor, But fient a hair care I. slight about t Last eve dust mock deuce I doubt na, lass, but ye may think, But sorrow tak him that's sae mean, That looks sae proud and high. Although a lad were e'er sae smart, money wenel direction But if he hae the name o' gear, Ye'll fasten to him like a brier, wealth Though hardly he, for sense or lear, learning But, Tibbie, lass, tak my advice, Your daddie's gear maks you sae nice; There lives a lass in yonder park, ask |