THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY. Bonnie lassie, will ye go, will ye go, will ye go, Bonnie lassie, &c. While o'er their heads the hazels hing, The braes ascend like lofty wa's, Bonnie lassie, &c. The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers, Bonnie lassie, &c. Let fortune's gifts at random flee. Bonnie lassie, &c. * * BURNS says, "I composed these stanzas standing under the falls of Aberfeldy, at, or near Moness." They are written in the same measure as the Birks of Abergeldie, an old Scottish Song, from which nothing is borrowed but the chorus. THE BANKS OF THE DEE. 'Twas summer, and softly the breezes were blowing, But now he's gone from me, and left me thus mourning, He's gone, hapless youth, o'er the loud-roaring billows, But time and my prayers may perhaps yet restore him, LOGAN BRAES. "By Logan's streams, that rin sae deep, "But waes my heart, thae days are gane, "Nae mair at Logan kirk will he Convoy me hame frae Logan kirk. “ At e’en, when hope amaist is gane, r My lover skaithless, an' my ain! "Belov'd by frien's, rever'd by faes, "We'd live in bliss on Logan braes." While for her love she thus did sigh, While sair she grat on Logan braes: "What can I do but weep and mourn? "I fear my lad will ne'er return, "Ne'er return to ease my waes, "Will ne'er come hame to Logan braes.” Wi' that he clasp'd her in his arms, And said, "I'm free from war's alarms, "I now hae conquer'd a' my faes, Then straught to Logan kirk they went, THE AULD MAN'S SANG. TUNE-"Dumbarton Drums." O WHY should age so much wound us, O? And our bairns and our oyes all around us, O. * Many have supposed this song to be a production of the "olden time." This, however, appears to be a mistake. In a late edition of the Works of BURNS, it is stated in a note to have been the production of Mr. JOHN MAYNE. This Gentleman is a native of Glasgow, and at present one of the Proprietors of the London Star. He is the author of "Glasgow, a Poem," and several other pieces of considerable merit. Logan Braes first came to be popularly known in the South West of Scotland about the year 1783. About the same time it was published by most of the Music Sellers in London, and soon became a great favourite at Vauxhall.-It will be seen, by a reference to BURNS's Logan Water, that he has adopted two lines of MAYNE'S Song. We began in this world with naething, O, And our thankful hearts were glad, When we got the bit meat and the claithing, O. When we had any thing we never vaunted, O, Nor did we hing our heads when we wanted, O; We always gave a share, Of the little we could spare, When it pleas'd the Almighty to grant it, O. We have liv'd all our lifetime contented, O, And we are so to this hour, Yet we never repin'd nor lamented, O. We never laid a plot to be wealthy, O, (And what further could we wis'?) To be pleas'd with ourselves and be healthy, O. But tho' we cannot boast of our guineas, O, More desirable by far Than a bag full of poor yellow stanies, O. We have seen many wonder and ferlie, O, Both in country and in town, Then why should people brag of prosperity, O, B |