SONGS OF THULE : / a I & . SONGS OF THULE r.\ LAURENCE JAMES NICOLSON ALEXANDER GARDNER }Jubltst)rr to $?rr fHafrstr tt)r OLurrn PAISLEY; AND 26 PATERNOSTER SQUARE, LONDON 1894 LOAN STACK He dreamt he saw his northern skies, His pining heart grew strong, And with glad tears within his eyes, He wakened into song. CONTENTS. PA G E "THE BARD OF THULE," 9 THULE, MY FATHERLAND, 12 THE ISLES OF THULE 15 THE NORSEMAN'S BATTLE SONG, 17 THULE, 20 COMFORT, 21 A LULLABY, 23 BARBARA PITCAIRN, 25 THULE No MORE, 30 THE PRINCESS OF THULE, 32 LERWICK, 34 THE DARK AND THE FAIR, 37 BALTA, 39 THE CAPTAIN AND HIS MATE, 41 "STAND BY THE FORE-SHEET," 43 KATE, 45 THE HYLTA DANCE, 47 A SUMMER DAY, 51 DA BREADWINNER, 53 BALDER THE BEAUTIFUL, 55 "Du KENS MY HERT is DINE," 57 OUR FATHERLAND, 59 "THE SEA HATH SPOKEN," 61 6 Contents. PAGE LAURENCE MOAR, 63 DA SIMMER DIM, ... 67 RESTIN' DA FIRE, ' 70 REVISITED, ... 72 VOICES, 75 DA LAST NOOST, 78 HUMANITY, 80 SLEEP, MY LITTLE DARLING, SLEEP, 82 LOST LOVE, 83 THE GOOD AND THE TRUE, 85 IN MEMORIAM, 87 SONG OF THE SEASONS, 88 HER PORTRAIT, 90 THE ANNIVERSARY, 91 SUMMER, 93 IN THE SUNSHINE, 95 CRAZY JEAN, 97 BROOMIEKNOWE, 100 ECHOES, 102 THE TIME OF ROSES, ... 103 HOPE, 105 THE COMIN' o' SLEEP, ... ... ... 107 "Huco," 109 THE VIOLET, ... in SONGSTERS OF THE GROVE, 113 HEAVEN, 114 BY THE WAY, 115 SONG OF THE PEOPLE, 117 THE DYING YEAR, 119 MOTHERLESS, 122 Contents. 7 PAGE THE LAST FIGHT, 124 MAY, ... .'. 126 JUNE, 128 LETHE, 129 NELLIE, 132 Sic EST VITA, 134 A SALUTATION, 135 GIORDANO BRUNO, 137 THE MYSTIC UNION, 139 ! T F.R BIRTHDAY, 141 FELO DE SE 143 GARIBALDI, 146 SHALL WE BIND THE CHAIN, 148 MICHAEL SERVETUS, 150 I Do NOT KNOW, 152 RE-CONSECRATED, ... 154 STEADFAST AND STRONG 156 THE BAIRNIE'S PIECE, 157 PARTED, 159 WASHIN' DAY, 160 FAIR AN' FAUSF., 162 THE CAULD BLAST, 163 NIGHT, 164 MORNING, 166 CAN I FORGET? 168 His LAST SONG, 169 BE NEAR, SWEET HOPE, 171 MOTHER, 173 THROUGH THE YEARS, 174 ASLEEP, 176 8 Contents. PAGE WAR 178 AUNTIE JEAN, ' ... 180 A BROTHER BARP, 183 CHRIST IN BONDS, 184 LIGHT OF LOVE, 186 LIFE, 187 A CENTENARIAN 188 A VALENTINE, ... 189 JENNIE DUNN 190 PEACE OR WAR? 193 THE DYING YEAR, 19$ SISTER, 197 A REVERIE, 199 A FRIEND OF THE POOR, 201 CHILDREN'S NEW YEAR HYMN, 203 LOVE, 205 A NIGHT WATCH, 207 L. R. T., 209 NEW YEAR, 211 VERSES, 214 VERSES, 216 FRATERNITY, 218 COMMUNINGS 220 THE NORTH JOURNEY, 222 BLASPHEMY, 225 A SONG OF THE SEA, 227 SONGS OF THULE. "THE BARD OF THULE. HE dreamt he saw his north'rn skies, His pining heart grew strong, And with glad tears within his eyes, He wakened into song. He sang of " merry dancers " light, That showed where lay in foam, Like silver clasping jewels bright, The isles he called his home. Of crags uniting sea and sky, Green isles and lonely caves, The sea-bird's cry, the wind's reply, And roar of ocean waves. i io The Bard of Thule. The organ tone of temples vast Uprising from the deep ; A mem'ry dwells in every blast That through their arches sweep. He roamed, a boy, the heather hills, He wandered by the shore, And then awoke in joyous thrills The love his young heart bore. And growing, strengthening with his years, First love his loves among, With light of smiles, and rain of tears, It blossomed into song. The sobbing of the troubled sea, The restless night wind's moan, Found in his soul a harmony, That sorrow made her own. The eagle in his fearless flight With freedom-loving wing ; The gentle light of north'rn night, Of these he loved to sing. The Bard of Thule. ir His love was deep, his hate was strong, And side by side they ran ; One music making in his song The brotherhood of man. One eve, on city, spire, and dome, Light fell he could not see ; At last ! at last ! 'mid scenes of home In fevered dream was he. Came voices, as he sank in sleep, From islands far away ; He smiled and on the shoreless deep The bard of Thule lay. 12 THULE, MY FATHERLAND. OH sing me a song of the far northern sea, Where Thule arises in lone majesty ; The hills, and the glens, and the wave sounding shore, Come back, oh come back, with the memories of yore, The life-giving, heart-stiring, memories of yore. Oh come with the far-sounding dash of the waves, The cry of the sea-birds that echo thy caves, The song of the sailor, preparing for sea, Ye voices of childhood, oh welcome are ye, As dew to the pining flower, welcome are ye. Only in dreams, do thy headlands appear ; Only in dreams, are the voices I hear ; Joy of my heart ! all the dearer to me, Thule, my fatherland ! over the sea. Companions who joined in the frolicsome strife Now join in the far other battle of life ; The bold and the daring, the gentle and shy, What hopes are fulfilled, and what hopes doomed to die? Thule, My Fatherland. 13 Oh where have you wandered to, under what sky ! I see the old schoolhouse, now lonely and still, I see the rough road winding up the steep hill, The long stretch of sand, where in childhood we played; But the years come between, and the glory has fled, Ah ! the years come between, and the glory has fled. Only in dreams do thy headlands appear ; Only in dreams are the voices I hear ; Joy of my heart ! all the dearer to me, Thule, my fatherland ! over the sea. I stand on the cliff, looking out to the sea, The breeze blowing inland is whispering to me ; Wherever by fortune the exile may roam The sea-breeze ! the sea-breeze will waft his heart home, Will joyfully welcome the wanderer home. Though severed from thee, yet united we stand, And circling around, and with hand grasping hand, The pledge of each true-hearted Norseman shall be, The islands that rest on the far northern sea, The grand rugged isles of the far northern sea. 14 Thule, My Fatherland. Bearded lips quiver, ne'er quivered before ; Eyes that were tearless, are now brimming o'er ; So the fend heart offers homage to thee, Thule, my fatherland ! Queen of the sea. THE ISLES OF THULE Tune, "Killarney." WHERE the " merry dancers " bright Flit along the northern sky ; Basking in their fairy light, Thule's bays and islands lie. Boldly tower her crags on high, And the sounding ocean waves, Mingling with the sea-bird's cry, Echo through her lonely caves. Dreamlike o'er the senses come, Mem'ries dear of love and home ; Every wavelet's rippling flow Murmurs sweet of long ago. Dancing gaily on the wave, Or mid' storm and seething foam, What will not the fisher brave For the dear ones left at home ? 1 6 The Isles of Thule. Watching as the storm comes on Ah ! how many there may mourn, When the weary watch is done, Friends who never will return ! Dreamlike o'er the senses come, Mem'ries dear of love and home ; Whisp'ring waves, or storm's loud roar, All recall that dear lov'd shore. Where the " merry dancers " bright Flit along the northern skies : When life's twilight shades to-night, Let me close my fading eyes ; Hearing still the sea-bird's cry, As in childhood long ago, Mingling in wild harmony With the sounding waves below Waves that were my playmates wild When on Thule's shores a child ; Into slumber long and deep, Hush me at the last to sleep. THE NORSEMAN'S BATTLE SONG. LIGHT is breaking on the shore, Norsemen bend the flashing oar ; Onward on the roaring wind, Kith and kin we leave behind. Round the headland towering o'er us, Do the deed that lies before us, Worthy of the land that bore us : Should the darkness fill mine eyes, I shall die as Viking dies ; Find me when the fight is done, Where the gods might claim a son, Bear me home, O'er the foam, In the battle gear, My good ship my bier ; Let the fire arise and flame the day. Seaward gale, Swell the sail, 1 8 The Norseman's Battle Song. Till the deep afar, Shines a mighty star, And right royally I pass away ; When Valhalla's walls shall ring Welcome to the warrior king. Norsemen sweep upon the foe, Battle-axe, and brand, and bow, Sweep as when, with ocean roar, Tempests sweep along the shore ; Scalds shall sing the saga hoary, Hearts be kindled by the story, Brave old Norseland reap the glory. Victory ! he cried, and fell, But his troth he kept full well Dead, on dead, at close of day, There the grim old Viking lay. Bear him home, O'er the foam, In the battle gear, His good ship his bier ; Let the fire arise and flame the day, The Norseman's Battle Song. 19 Seaward gale, Swell the sail, Till the deep afar, Shines a mighty star, And right royally he'll pass away, Then Valhalla's walls shall ring Welcome to the warrior king. 20 THULE. BELOVED Thule, I am thine ! Thy home is on the northern deep, Embosomed there, thou art so fair, The summer day is robbed of sleep, And love-lorn night, a lonely star, Can but behold thee from afar. Can but behold thee from afar, And whisper : " Heart, oh heart, be still," For jealous day will not away, But lingers on from hill to hill, And oh, the light on land and sea, A dream, a deathless memory. A dream, a deathless memory, That gathers glory more and more, Where headlands rise to cloudless skies, With ceaseless song of sea and shore ; Beloved Thule, I am thine ! And thou, first love and last, art mine. 21 COMFORT. CAN there be comfort and strife Raging within like the sea ? Give me my dead back to life, Then speak of comfort to me. Have I not prayed all the night ? Is He not mighty to save ? What answer brought morning light ? Ask of the merciless wave. Ah, you may call it a sin. Mine is the anguish to-day ; Where for the darkness within Where is the light can you say ? There as he stood at the door, Light of my soul in his eyes ; Never again ! nevermore ! Come ye and see where he lies. 2 2 Comfort. Eyes needing no more the light, Ears heeding no more the din ; Joy once to hearing and sight, Let ye his little ones in. Little eyes what do they see ? Little tongues what do they say ? Hushed is their boisterous glee, Father is sleeping to-day. One creeps up close to the dead, Kisses the cheek tenderly ; One lifts a bright curly head, Mother ! wake father to me. Back with a look of surprise Come they, and cling to her dress ; Motherly love fills her eyes ; Breaks from her lips" Fatherless ! " Ah me ! the long dreary night ; Ah me ! the long weary years ; Darlings oh clasp clasp me tight Is there not comfort in tears ? A LULLABY. HUSHYBA, my curry ting, Cuddle close to mammie ; Cuddle close and hear me sing, Peerie mootie lammie. Glancin' goold and siller shells Fae da mermaid's dwellin', Bonnie flo'ers fae fairy dells, Past a' mortal tellin' ; Wha, oh wha sail gel but de, Hert o' my hert, life o' me. Saftly, saftly, hiimin grey Owre de sea is creepin', An' its nedder nicht nor day, Waking time, nor sleepin' ; But da waves upo' da shore Whisper still my lammie, 24 A Lullaby. - Doun da lum, an' troo da door ; Cuddle close to mammie. Cosier du couldna be Hert o' my hert, life o' me. Bonnie blue een blinkin' fast, Peerie mootie lammie ; Sleep has ta'en de noo at last, Cuddlin' close to mammie. Blissens be attendin' de, Happy be dy wakin', For wir ain comes fae da sea, Whin da day is breakin'. Daybreak, licht o' hame is he Hert o' my hert, life o' me. NOTE. Curry Neat, bonnie, lovable, are included in this com- prehensive word, and do not exhaust its meaning. Perrie mootie very small ; ting thing ; fae from ; nedder neither ; da the ; du thou ; dy thy ; upo upon ; troo through ; de thee ; blissens blessings ; wir our ; hiimin twilight. BARBARA PITCAIRN. A NORLAN' BALLAD. " Tis said wi' young Gifford in secret ye meet, Noo, mark ye my words, if the story be true ; I'd rather my son were stretched dead at my feet, Barbara Pitcairn, than wedded to you." The lady o' Biista was stately an' grand, An' prood was my lady o' her pedigree ; But Barbara Pitcairn only dwelt on the land, And savin' her bonnie face, naething had she. The wavelets fell saft on the silvery sand As doun through the valley she wearily gaed ; The singin' o' birdies rang blythe o'er the land, But she never heard the sweet music they made. The bairnies at play missed the licht o' her smile, The flowers raised their heads, for they croon'd her their queen ; 26 Barbara Pitcairn. The glory o } sunshine -fell round her the while, But she naething saw but her sorrow sae keen. " Is this my ain dearest wi' tears in her een Her bonnie face white as the new-driven snaw ? Oh, whaur hae ye been, love, an' what hae ye seen ? An' why keep ye turnin' your sweet face awa' ? " " I've been at the ha', an' my lady is there, An' oh, sic a fear has ta'en haud o' me a' ! My heart is fu' sair I can tell ye na mair ; An', oh, that ye werena the laird o' the ha'. t " I'm wae for yoursel' an' what yet may befa', I'm wae oh, I'm wae for the bairnie unborn ; Sae weel may my face be as white as the snaw, For surely o' women am I maist forlorn." Sae closely he faulded her into his airms, An' kissed her fu' aft and fu' tenderly ; " Oh, wha could hae heart ane sae gentle to harm, Or bring ony dule 'tween my ain love and me ? Barbara Pitcairn. 27 " We plighted our troth we would ever be true, We plighted our troth, an' we sealed it for life ; The secret is oot noo, but think ye I rue The day before God that I made ye my wife ? '* This night for the proof I will cross owre the voe ; Nae rest will I seek till I get it, my queen ! An' then to the ha' wi' my darlin' I'll go, To morrow ! to-morrow ! the proof shall be seen ! " " Oh, Gifford, my ain love, I ken ye are true ; What care I for wealth, or a lady to be ? Your smile is my sunshine, I bask in it noo, If that were ta'en frae me I think I wad dee." Like maiden sae pensive the northern night Cam' doon owre the land as the day closed his e'e ; The moon has arisen, an' what meets her sight ? A masterless boat driftin' oot to the sea. Sweet sleep has fu' tenderly smoothed every broo, The hillside abune, an' the valley below ; But sleep deeper sleep has encompassed him noo, Whase bed is the wanderin' wave o' the voe. 28 Barbara Pitcairn. A The skerries are singin' His dirge in the dawn, The cry o' the sea-bird .is lanely and wae ; One star in the wide heaven, sickly and wan, Is fadin' awa' frae the light o' the day. The light on his eyes, yet in darkness he lies, He lies on the sand that the bright waters lave ; An' aye the refrain comes again and again, The cry o' the sea bird, the plash o' the wave. But she wha is she at the low cottage door ? The spirit o' mornin' the sunlight her hair ; A moment she stands wi' her een on the shore, An' noo wi' quick feet she is there she is there. " Oh, Gifford ! " she cries as she sinks on the sand, And looks on the white face, wet, wet, frae the sea, An' kissin' the cauld lips, an' grippin' the hand "Oh, Gifford! my Gifford! speak! oh, speak to me! " Ye ask wha am I, wi' sic grief for the dead : Oh, lady, the answer ye've ta'en frae his breast j My love, an' my life noo, to sorrow are wed Ye've ta'en frae his breast what will tell ye the rest. Barbara Pitcairn. 29 " Aye, there is the proof next his heart it was worn ! Aye, there is the proof, an* it cost him his life ! But saves noo frae slander his bairnie unborn, An' me, noo his widow, for I was his wife." They stand face to face, an' their tearfu' een meet, A voice like an echo thrills baith their hearts through; " I'd rather my son was stretched dead at my feet, Barbara Pitcairn, than wedded to you." THULE NO MORE. A SONG OF LEAVE-TAKING. Tune "The Hardy Norseman." FAREWELL to rocky hill and glen, Green isles and deep-voic'd shore, The stranger may return again, But we return no more. For gather'd now upon thy shore, An exile band are we, And nevermore, oh, nevermore, Our eyes may light on thee. Our limbs are strong, our hearts are brave, Nurs'd by the wild North Sea ; A home we seek across the wave, Dear Thule, far from thee. But still, as in the days of yore, Thy children still are we, Thule no More. 31 Though nevermore, oh, nevermore Our eyes may light on thee. Thy tow'ring cliffs majestic rise From ocean depth below, And grander anthems fill thy skies Than human temples know. And in the vanish'd days of yore We listen'd reverently, Now nevermore, oh, nevermore Our eyes may light on thee. We see thee yet, dear island home, And strain our tear-dimm'd sight Across an angry sea of foam, Through gath'ring clouds of night. Farewell, farewell, thy fading shore Sinks in the North'rn Sea, And nevermore, oh, nevermore Our eyes may light on thee. THE PRINCESS OF THULE. WITHIN the mighty city pining lay The fair young princess at the close of day; The glory in the west had lingered long, And touched the chords of memory and song. Oh fain would I flee from the strife and the din, Where hearts that were pure know the glamour of sin, And rough-shod men go where the roses are spread, But bare are the feet that the thorny way tread, And weary the hearts for the hopes that are dead. I see the lone land of the mist and the fell, The purple-clad vales where mine own people dwell, I hear their dear voices now calling to me Oh, Thule, dear Thule ! my heart is with thee ; Oh, Thule, my island home over the sea. Oh can it be but a dream of the night, Filling and thrilling my heart with delight, Only to fade when the morning shall rise ; Then let me die with the dream in mine eyes. The Princess of Thule. 33 There ! there ! the grim headlands of Thule arise, Her walls to the waves, and her cliffs to the skies : And oh, her wild music is dear unto me, The cry of the seabird, the surge of the sea, The sound of the great throbbing northern sea. The days that are gone, with the rapture of soul, Return on the winds with the billowy roll ; And shall I not have a glad welcome from thee, Oh, Thule, dear island home over the sea ! Oh, Thule, my Thule, I come back to thee ! Oh can it be but a dream of the night, Filling and thrilling my heart with delight, Only to fade when the morning shall rise ; Then let me die with the dream in mine eyes. 34 LERWICK. OLD AND NEW. TO-DAY we long for yesterday, Ah, Time, that flies so fast ! A gentle breeze of memories Is stirring up the past. In mystic gleam of vision clear, I see the haunts of yore, There's Sinclair's beach and Gallic's pier, And Marion Mouat's shore. And Morrison's and Parker's piers, And Burns's, Tait's, and Hay's ; Before my sight they rise in light " The light of other days." Lenvick. 35 Loadberrys * lie like anchored ships, And they are anchored well ; Ah, if their oaken doors were lips, What stories they could tell ! Can I forget your slimy steps, Greig's " hoi," of evil fame ? Once, ere I wist, on your death list, You nearly had my name. At last, at last ! oh dear old town, I journey back to thee, Across the foam for there is home And now what do I see ? I walk, where once I rowed a boat, A stranger and alone ; And see with eyes of sad surprise That everything is gone. Yea, everything I knew thee by ; Now what art thou to me ? * Cellars' or stores built on the shore, nearly surrounded by the sea. 36 Lenvick. -> An old-world gleam a bye-gone dream, A sacred memory. For thou art dead, old Lerwick town, And never more will rise ; It had to be ah, yes but we Look back with loving eyes. " The king is dead ! long live the king!" And cheer the progress made. And yet and yet can we forget The dear old king that's dead ? 37 THE DARK AND THE FAIR ONE rose before my raptured eyes, Like Norlan' summer night, One floated down from Indian skies, With eyes of melting light ; And both ah, me ! do what I may, Possess my being night and day. When she the dark one takes my hand, And gazes in my eyes, My soul is wafted to that land, The lover's paradise ; Then she the fair one whispers low, And where she leads me I must go. Oh ! maiden of the Norlan' seas, My dream divinely fair ; I envy e'en the passing breeze That wantons through thy hair ; 38 The Dark and the Fair. 41 But what avails ? with killing art The dark eyes stab me to the heart. How can I choose in my despair, The dark eyes, or the blue ? Beloved angels ! tell me where Is land between the two ; For I am on a shoreless sea, Four star-bright eyes distracting me. 39 BALTA.* IN tempest or in calm, by day or night, Round Thule's shores do no fond mem'ries dwell ? Great Saxafiord, the last that filled your sight, And Baltasound, birth-haven loved so well. You sent a kindly greeting unto me, A hope that we should meet some happy day, But, ere the season neared when it should be, A message came that you had passed away. Sweet singer on the battle-field of life, Soul tuned to love of right and hate of wrong, Brave heart, that waged a hopeless double strife, We hear again your simple Doric song " For, 'midst the difficulty great Wi' whilk I hae to cope, * The nom-de-plumt of a young poet whom Death hath taken. 40 Balta. There's aye alight shines unco bright, What can it be but hope ? . An' surely some bright day will come, I kenna when or hoo, When I can cry triumphantly, ' It's my turn noo.' " The last, the last you sung in that strong light, The mystic light that ever led you on, Then all too soon came down the silent night ; Oh, was the light the sunset or the dawn ? It was the dawn ! it was the dawn that came, And so at last you did not sing in vain ; For Death came near, and called upon your name, And doubly true became your song's refrain. And now with one who never saw your face, Nor felt the kindly touch of hand to hand, A brotherhood is sealed with nameless grace, And consecrated in the silent land. THE CAPTAIN AND HIS MATE. Set to Music by A. STEWART. A SONG, a wedding song to-night, A golden wedding song ; Old eyes still bright, by love's own light, And two hearts brave and strong. The captain and his mate, Thro' calm and stormy weather, By love's decree have sailed life's sea For fifty years together. They hear the wedding bells again, From out the long ago ; And welcome sunshine, welcome rain, And now the winter snow. And now the winter snow, For love, the darkest weather Will battle through, when hearts are true, For fifty years together. 3 42 The Captain and His Mate. i The day is rife of toil and strife, But evening bringeth rest ; The light we trace on either face, Is light from out the west. But stronger, brighter still, Through calm and stormy weather, The light that lies in loving eyes For fifty years together. With hearty cheer, safe harboured here, And love on either side ; Tight fore and aft, long may their craft In peaceful waters ride. And till the night shall come, With dark and dreary weather, The love will last that stood the blast For fifty years together. 43 "STAND BY THE FORE-SHEET." THE love of comrades comes with balmy breath Across the sea of death, And sweetens sorrow for the young and brave, That found one grave. " Stand by the fore-sheet ! " and one stood and fell, The sea he loved so well With jealous heart, in her white arms of foam, Then bore him home. His comrade, in his eager haste to save, Plunged headlong in the wave ; In vain, in vain, they went down side by side Beneath the tide. * The above verses refer to the unfortunate accident whereby two gentlemen lost their lives on the Shetland coast. One was about to be married the wedding cards having been issued. 44 Stand by the Fore-Sheet. '\ A maiden waits in fair Edina's town For one, her life to crown ; And counts the hours that keep him still apart From her glad heart. Oh never shall that maiden's arms enfold Her lover stark and cold ; And dark to her will be for evermore Lone Thule's shore. But dearer now the ever-present past, The first kiss and the last ; And in her heart the wild wave sinks and swells, With wedding bells. The bride and bridegroom now, in very truth, Have gained immortal youth ; The favoured guests full well may hold for aye The wedding day. 45 KATE. FAREWELL ! sweet one, that I adore, My heart, my heart is thine most truly, Thy face will haunt me evermore, My own belove'd maid of Thule. We part but for a little space, All, all thou art, now know I fully, How, how can I forget thy face ! My own belove'd maid of Thule. What though I leave the happy shore, Ah, wind and wave, that part us cruelly, Thy face will haunt me evermore, My own beloved maid of Thule. My song I dedicate to thee And I would dedicate a dozen But fate will sever thee and me, For I am forty, and thy cousin ; 46 Kate. ~\ Yet I, I will forget thee not : What though our love has thus miscarried, And now I almost had forgot Another item I am married ! 47 THE HYLTA DANCE.* A NORTHERN LEGEND. THE Hylta Dance, my little one, Is just a fairy ring ; When all is still about the hill, The fairies dance and sing. They dance and sing in merry ring Around their fiddlers three ; And all the night, in wild delight, Are free, as free can be. We wander on my boy and I, All under that sweet spell, With little speech, until we reach The middle of the dell. * The name given to a ring of stones, with three in the centre, embedded in the green sward in the island of Fetlar, Shetland. 48 The Hylta Dance. M The lonely hills on either side, Near by the' restless sea ; A ring of stones outspreading wide, And in the centre, three. Here is the fairy ring, my child, " Where are the fairies gone ? " They must away, ere dawn of day, For night is theirs alone. But some, alas ! had lingered late ; In vain they made their moan, The sun arose, their life blood froze, And they were changed to stone. So in a circle here they stand, Just as they stood that day \ Now round the ring, all hand in hand, The merry children play. It is an old, old story, child, That poets oft have sung, Long, long ago, for you must know The world then was young. The Hylta Dance. 49 With wonderment he takes my hand, I leave the ways of men : Oh, gentle power ! for one brief hour I am a boy again. It is not day it is not night,* But hill, and dell, and stream, In Norlan' light, before my sight, Arise a rapture dream. The whisper of the homeless wind, The sound of sea and shore, Bring back the past from out the vast, My own for evermore. With ears the master Time makes keen, With eyes, that look through tears All tenderly, I hear and see The ghosts of bygone years. A child among the children I, I hear them laugh and sing, * The light that remains in a Shetland midsummer sky after the sun has set has to be seen to be for ever remembered. 50 The Hylta Dance. M And, hand in hand, I join the band Around the fairy ring. Bright, living fairies long ago, "Where are the fairies gone?" My little boy, I do not know, For I am here alone. A SUMMER DAY. WE met by the shores of the Forth, From islands far over the sea, Whose headlands arise in the North, Storm-daring, defiant, and free. We thought of our home-land afar, As wave followed wave on the shore. Oh ! well-beloved Northern Star, We are thine ! we are thine evermore ! Our Norlan' tongue, gifted by thee, Fell soft on our ear where we met, And wafted from over the sea The song we can never forget. It came with the bird on the wing, It came with the wave on the shore, And ever again our refrain We are thine ! we are thine evermore ! 52 A Summer Day. We gathered ourselves in a ring : With song, and with dance, and -with play, Our city -freed spirits took wing To childhood and home far away ; And though beneath alien sky, That one day will ever recall The home-light that never will die Till death overshadoweth all. 53 DA BREADWINNER. OH, midder, I ken for yer face is sae white, I ken bi da tears in yer ee, Yer thinkin' agen o' my faeder, da nicht 'At he gaed awa' ta da sea. What lack wis my faedar ? tell a' 'at ye can, Did ever I sit on his knee ? Dy faedar, my bairn ? A kindlier man Never pat oot a boat ta da sea. But, midder, if he kens yer greetin' sae sair, Wid he no come hame frae da sea ? Oh, na, na, my jewel, his een never mair Will licht on his bairn or me. Come sit on my knee, an' I'll tell a' I ken, Noo cuddle in close, close ta me ; Dy faeder, my bairn wi' five ither men, At hiimin set oot ta da sea. 54 Da Breadwinner. He stood here an' kissed dee an' me, ere he gaed ; Cam' back frae da door aince agen, An' kissed dee, my darlin', looked at me, an' said, " Giidewife a last kiss ta oor ain." I cam' ta da door, bit I spak no a wird, I felt as if a' wisna richt ; I stood till his boat just looked like a bird, I stood, till she gaed frae my sicht. 'Tween sleepin' an' wakin', I couldna tell hoo, I toucht dat dy faedar wis here, An' twice I cried " Willie ! " but den, my ain doo, My mind wis dementit wi' faer. Doo's sleepin', my bairn ; oh, sweet be dy sleep, For trouble enough doo may dree, Dy hert is owre young for da sorrow sae deep Dat bears doon sae heavy on me. But paice efter tempest will come yet, I ken, Lack saft moonlicht owre da still sea, Sae gladly I'll welcome da nichtfa, for den At daybreak da shadows will flee. 55 BALDER THE BEAUTIFUL. FAR in the Northland, 'mid seething sea foam Where the bold Norseman has found him a home ; Round the grim headlands defiant and lone, Down through the sea caves with sob and with moan Sea-bird above and the wild wave below Echo and answer with voices of woe Balder the Beautiful ! Balder is dead. / Laid in his ship with his face to the skies, Crowned with his golden hair let the flame rise ; Wind and wave waft him to ocean afar, Lonely and grand till he fades to a star. Sea-bird above and the wild wave below Answer and echo with voices of woe Balder the Beautiful ! Balder is dead. 56 Balder the Beautiful. Gone are the gods in tfie twilight of days, Gone with the hearts that accorded them praise ; Yet do they reign, and when spring breezes blow, Waking the earth into blossom, we know, Out of the Northland and over the sea, Filled with the hope of the joy that shall be, Balder the Beautiful ! Cometh again. Mighty the deeds that the Sagamen sing, Done in the days when the earth was in spring ; Now, in full summer, what breezes will blow, Waking the heart into blossom, and show. Out of the Northland and over the sea, Filled with the hope of the day that shall be, Balder the Beautiful ! Coming again. 57 DU KENS MY HERT IS DINE." " Du kens my hert is dine," Was all that she could say ; And in the bliss of one long kiss We parted on that day. A wanderer was I, At fickle Fortune's call ; The roaring sea was joy to me, For love was all in all. The golden sun her hair, The foam her bosom white ; Her deep-blue eyes the Norlan' skies On cloudless summer night. The music of her voice No bard has ever sung ; For bird and breeze and sounding seas Are in her Norlan' tongue. 4 58 Du Kens My Hert is Dine. Oh, love is all in all, My hope, my guiding light Go where I may, my sun by day, My star in darkest night. In tempest or in calm One dream is mine alway ; To cross again the heaving main To Norlan' far away. With years of golden gain I now seek Thule's shore ; All danger past, to thee at last, My own for evermore. Oh, whither shall I go ? What comfort now is mine ? Above her grave I murmur low, " Du kens my hert is dine." 59 OUR FATHERLAND. MY friend ! to me not all in vain, The ling'ring days have circled round, For I shall cross the northern main, * And walk once more on sacred ground. New friends are but the passing breath, That gently stirs a summer sea, Old friends are linked by solemn Death, And live on loving memory. Again with thrill of glad surprise, Upon the deck I see you stand, And meet the welcome of your eyes, And grasp again your manly hand. Grand Saxafiord, and Hermaness, Arise before our raptured sight, And Cliff in utter loneliness, And over all, the northern night. 60 Our Fatherland. \ Oh did I say" the northern night ? " There is no night on Thule's shorej Enamoured Day leaves ling'ring light, That haunts the soul for evermore. By lovely Loch of Cliff we stand ; Oh noble hills on either side ! Could you not stay the ruthless hand That spread destruction far and wide ! He saw the happy peasant's home, And envy filled his greedy mind ; Afar the homeless exiles roam, And roofless cots are left behind. The little households wandered forth, And hearts might break, and tears be shed ; The stranger sought the stormy north The stranger ate the children's bread. Our joyous thoughts were touched with pain, With full hearts joined we hand to hand, And reverently we pledged to thee, Our Fatherland ! Our Fatherland ! 6i "THE SEA HATH SPOKEN." (ISAIAH xxm. 4.) THE sea hath spoken, Even the mighty and merciless sea, And hearts are broken, Where is there comfort, if comfort there be? Swift without warning, Burst forth the tempest in death-dealing might, Oh God for morning ! Cry of the helpless that terrible night. Skilful and daring, Aye, but the darkness came down like a pall, Then came despairing, When the death agony swept over all. Thule, Oh Thule ! What though thy waves dimple now into smiles, 62 The Sea Hath Spoken. M Know we not truly, Sorrow is queen of thy cliff-girted isles. The sea hath spoken, What is the answer brought back from the shore ? This shall betoken, All the air echoes the sad " nevermore." Tireless, Oh tireless, Wail of the widow the widow new made ; And from homes fireless, Cometh the cry of the orphan for bread. LAURENCE MOAR. A SON of Thule, gentle, true, and brave, He fought the wild North wave : Brought home the dead and dying through the fight, That direful night. A peacefu' sea lapped cliff and shore when he, And his companions three, For wife and little ones, set out, and found Their fishing ground. Upon them like a Fury, fierce and fast, Drove down the bitter blast, And tore in wrath, with desolating sweep, The mighty deep. They cut their lines, and each man took his oar, And laboured for the shore, But their small craft, though handled manfully, Swept out to sea. 64 Laurence Moar. \ The stinging snow like fine dust choked their breath, They fought Despair and Death ; ' The wave broke over them, the tempest rose, Their life blood froze, The deadly darkness, leagued with wind and wave, Closed o'er them like a grave, And by the touch alone each brave man knew His comrade true. But shoulder still to shoulder, blow for blow, They felt and fought the foe, And, like true Norsemen, with nor fear, nor boast, Could die at post. A deeper darkness falling on them fast, One brother fell at last ; He found his dead hand grasping still the oar, Another shore. Unclasping the dead fingers, their work done, The other struggled on ; But quickly to the land of shadows dim He followed him. Laurence Moar. 65 The third took up their post, but all in vain, And he, too, joined the twain, And one was left to battle for the shore, Brave Laurence Moar. He reefs the little sail, and sets the mast, A chance for life the last ; With one hand steers, the other bails the boat, If she may float. The water rises can it be a leak ? And he is growing weak. The water rises every nerve he strains It gains it gains. And still it gains, no more no more a doubt, The nile * the nile is out. Still undismayed ; he fought Death hand to hand, And gained the land. * A local term for the plug of the boat. 66 Laurence Moar. Did ever skipper bring such crew to shore As did brave Laurence Moar ? Two dead one saved and now the roll of fame Has one more name. DA SIMMER DIM.* DA northern midnight simmer sky, Da waveless waters o' da voe, Nae mortal een saw fairer scene A heaven abune, a heaven below. Nae soond is heard on land or sea, Owre a' sic saft light lingerin' lies 'At weel may seem a radiant dream Ta waft da soul ta Paradise. An' fairer, dearer noo tae me Ta me, dat noo maun laeve it a' ; But I will brave da wildest wave, An' haud my hert, whate'er befa'. * "Simmer dim" the soft light of a Shetland night if night it can be called. Added to the charm of such a scene is the song of the lark, heard half an hour after midnight. 68 Da Simmer Dim. My mither's last wirds fill her een, An' noo my father grips my haand " Glide's blessin' be attendin' dee, My boy, upon da sea or laand." What hear I noo, high owre my head 'At comes, like hope, wi' wings ootspread ? A voice, dat gars my twa een swim, Da laverock, in da simmer dim. Da stootest ship may come ta wrack, Da strongest back may hae ta boo, Da bravest hert wi' life maun pairt, Sae I am lyin' lanely noo. Last night in draem I wis at hame, A vision o' da happy past " Gude save my een ! Oh, hoo's du been ? " My mither cried " Du's come at last." " Come set de doun, du's cauld an' white, An' pit dy feet upo da paet ; " " Naa mither, I maun geng da night, Da road is lang, da oor is late." Da Simmer Dim. 69 " Whaur whaur da night, if it maun be ? But du will sune come back, my ain ; " 41 Naa, whaur I geng du'll come to me, An' den we'll never pairt again." Dat midnight sky dat waveless voe, Da heaven abune, da heaven below, An' noo 'sh lack an angel hymn, Da laverock, in da simmer dim. 70 RESTIN' DA FIRE.* A SHETLAND FOLK SONG. DA lang, lang day is wearin' troo ; Come gentle hiimin f fa', For faces, aye, an' voices noo, Are fadin' fast awa'. Da hiimin brings da night's dark wings, An' I'm begun ta tire ; Da haand that kendled first my lowe Is restin' noo da fire. Twa herts wer bright dat happy night, Da night 'at made us ane, Twa herts an' haands we joined, an' noo We join twa haands again. Scottish equivalent" Gathering the fire." Hiimin Twilight Gloamin'. Restirt da Fire. 71 Dat time we met, dis time we pairt ; But though I laeve dy side, Du'll come ta me, den hert to hert ! Oh ! winna we be blyde ? I hear da far-aff skerries roar, 'At fills da dark'ning sky, Da dashin' wave apo da shore, Da sea-birds hamewird cry ; An' I'm dat sea-bird seekin' hame, Gude grant me my desire ; Sae sit by me, gudewife, an' see Da restin' o' da fire. RE VI SITED. A WAND'RER from the parent breast, Returning to the nest ; And Thule's rugged headlands rise To yearning eyes. Grim outpost, where the wild winds sweep Along the midnight deep ; The hero of a thousand wars, And crowned with stars. The stranger gives the tribute due, Dark sea caves, skies of blue, And cliffs that tower to heaven above ; I give thee love. With sunlight breaks the silv'ry foam In music round my home, And brings a song to my glad ears From far-off years. Revisited. Oh, brave old bard of tuneful lyre ! When wind and wave inspire, What lay can match 'mid poet throng Thy mighty song ? The years are swept before the blast, The present is the past, And I am on thy heaving main, A boy again. With swelling heart I strain my sight To where, in fadeless light, All sea-enamoured, nestles down My native town. I seek the old house by the sea, And enter rev'rently ; It knows me not all, all is change, And I am strange. Oh, could I find the little boy Whose life had less alloy, And look with his own eyes once more On cliff and shore. 5 73 74 Revisited. And eagerly each haunt I trace That saw his beaming face ; Oh, cliff and shore ! still unforgot, I find him not. 75 VOICES. OH, voices from the far-off seas, That break in song upon the shore ; Oh, spirit of the summer breeze, With tender memories of yore. Your gentle spell is over me, A dream of yearning heart and brain, Across the mystic wave I see The days that were return again. 'Neath Northern skies grim headlands rise 'Mid roar of wave and flash of foam, To listening ears and glistening eyes The sacred sounds and sights of home. Lone Thule thy dread secret keep, Enough is told in rugged scars, Bold warder of the midnight deep, Begirt with might and crowned with stars. 76 fotces. Another vision rises now, The school and playground on the hill, And, 'mid the noise of restless boys, The master's voice I hear it still. We reared strong castles by the sea, And battles fought like Norsemen true ; Is nothing left but memory ? Ah, brave companions ! where are you ? The distant day in splendour lay, Where earth and sky in rapture met ; But manhood smiled, for unbeguiled He saw the childhood glory set. Sweet hope that comes, and slowly goes, What gain through all the rolling years ? The flower of Wisdom buds and blows, When watered well with sorrow's tears. Oh, voices from the far-off seas, That break in song upon the shore ; Oh, spirit of the summer breeze, With tender memories of yore. Voices. From sadder thoughts ye set me free, I feel the unforgotten near, And loving arms enfolding me, And kisses Death makes doubly dear. DA LAST NOOST. {"Noost" is the place to which a Shetland boat is drawn up in ivinter. ) A SANG, annkler sang, ye say, An' if it be da last, Need I be wae ? I'm haed my day, An' noo dat day is past. My day is dune, what need I care ? I'm haed him foul, I'm haed him fair ; An sae, auld boat, for dee an' me Nae mair, nae mair, da heavin' sea. Du wis a boat o' boats da best, Troo mony a storm we drave ; Noo in da Noost, du taks da rest We never mair will laeve. Last haven, freend, for dee an' me, For we're cross'd owre Life's changin' sea ; We set oot wi' nae little trust, An' noo it ends in dael an' dust. Da Last Noost. 79 When dee an' me, dat day in June, Broucht hame my bonnie bride, My hert sung oot a blyde, blyde tune, Du danc'd ipo da tide. Ah ! Life an' Love wis young, an' den I haed a happy but an' ben ; Du wis my pride ipo the sea, An' she was da very hert o' me. Den cam a day o' dule an' care, Da lift abune wis lead Across da dreary sea we bare To her last hame my dead. My fecht is owre wi' wind an' wave, Da Noost is noo da quiet grave ; An' sae, auld boat, for dee an' me, Nae mair, nae mair, da heavin' sea ! 8o HUMANITY. Music and beauty are now in the land, Glowing with gladness that knows no alloy ! Nature bestows with a bountiful hand, Revelling now in a rapture of joy. Oh, could her joy, like a great river, flow Down where the footsteps of misery go ! Fair is her face by the river and mead, Sweet is her voice on the land and the sea ; Come to thy children, the sorest in need, Pining and dying, oh, mother, for thee ; Enter love-laden the dwellings of woe, Short is the season of respite they know. Glory of dawn with the hope of the day, Glory of day in meridian of might, Twilight the gentle, in garments of grey, Voice of eternity, marvellous Night ; Humanity. 81 Wake the rapt soul to the longings and needs Where the great heart of Humanity bleeds. Mother of all, take the love that is thine, Thine shall it be till mine eyes shall be set, Leaving to thrill all this being of mine, Love that is tenderer, mightier yet. Sacred to hold, for Humanity's sake, All through the night for the day that shall break. 82 SLEEP, MY LITTLE DARLING, SLEEP. SLEEP, my little darling, sleep, Mother's arms no more shall hold thee ; Wilt thou miss her loving kiss, Now the silences enfold thee ? Summer sun and winter snow Sweet one, thou wilt never know, Free from all our anguish deep, Sleep, my little darling, sleep. Sleep, my little darling, sleep, Dark and dreary days we number, Till that we with thee shall be, Wrapt in ever restful slumber ; Joy and sorrow is our lot, Time and change thou knowest not, While we wake, and wake to weep, Sleep, my little darling, sleep. LOST LOVE. FAREWELL, lost love, I will not say That falsehood dwells with thee, But that the grave for evermore Hath hid my love from me. And rendered back her spirit pure, As in the days of yore, A star to light the darkest night Till night shall be no more Oh, lost love, Oh, dead love, Till night shall be no more. I will not tell my faithful heart Thy love was bought with gold ; I only know the day is done, The night is dark -and cold ; So I will dream the tempter came, But death had been before ; 84 Lost Love. His kindly dart kep\ pure thy heart, Mine own for evermore ! Oh, lost love, Oh, dead love, Mine own for evermore ! I leave thee now, thy witching smile May fall on whom it may, For I will see thee nevermore, But dream my dream alway. I look on thee, and think of one I loved in days of yore The form and face is all I trace, Farewell for evermore ! Oh, lost love, Oh, dead love, Farewell for evermore ! THE GOOD AND THE TRUE. THE night hath departed, The morning is here ; Then welcome glad-hearted, The dawn of the year. No sorrowful traces, Of days that are gone, Shall darken our faces And shadow the dawn. But fresh youth renewing, To dare, and to do, And hopeful pursuing The good, and the true. Oh greater the dower Than gold, or than lands, Strong nerves flashing power To brain, and to hands. 86 The Good and the True. M With such a possession Inspiring the breast, To cast down oppression, And raise the oppress't. Unswerving and stoutly This pathway pursue, And follow devoutly The good and the true. IN MEMORIAM. j. c. A TRIBUTE to thy mem'ry, little friend, From one who feels a sympathetic sorrow With those who mourn, and fail to comprehend, Yet seek from out the darkness, light to borrow. We stand upon the cold and dreary shore Of that unfathomed, gloom-enshrouded ocean ; We only hear the sobbing evermore, That sinks and rises with the waves' commotion. Yet all the sunshine will not pass away That lighted thy sweet face, and filled thy spirit ; Nor yet the sound of pattering feet at play, While we the boon of memory inherit. The trembling stars of eve, the fairest flowers, The little warbling birds, the sunset's glory, And every bright thing in this world of ours, Will keep forever now thy little story. 88 SONG OF THE SEASONS. Set to music by Dr. JOHN GREIG. OH come bud-breathing Spring, With smiles that break through tears, And bring, my loved one, bring The love that casts out fears ; With budding beauties brighter than the day, Oh love ! my love ! abide with me alway. In leaf and flower arrayed, And song to give thee cheer, Oh Summer, bright-eyed maid, The blossom of the year ; The raptured breeze can neither go, nor stay ! Oh love ! my love ! abide with me alway. The song has died away, And Summer now has gone, Song of the Seasons. 89 Come Autumn, brown and grey, Dear heart, we two are one ; With sober thought my hand in thine I lay, Oh love ! my love ! abide with me alway. Now bird and stream are dumb, And all the land is white, Oh lonely Winter come, And bring the long, long night, With peace and rest, for which the weary pray, Oh love ! my love ! abide with me alway. 9 o HER PORTRAIT. THIS truly is thy counterpart, I think it fair because like thee : But what avails when my poor heart Will never, never more be free ? And, like the slave that hugs his chains, I gaze, and fondly gaze again, On that dear face where beauty reigns, And my escape is doubly vain. Ah, me ! and whither shall he flee, Beholding once what I have seen ? But evermore must think of thee, And what is now, and might have been. The years have graven either brow The brook where we stood side by side, And kissed, and joined brave hands is now A river, like an ocean wide. THE ANNIVERSARY. I HEAR his patt'ring feet upon the floor, And, shouting " Dada ! dada ! " in his glee ; With wide-spread arms he meets me at the door, And now, with clasp and kiss, sits on my knee, He tells me o'er his little griefs and joys, With such a pathos and a winning grace ; Entranced I hear the music of his voice, And see his whole soul beaming in his face. And now he brings his picture-book again, And, pointing with his finger, tells anew, With wonder working in his little brain, The myst'ries of each picture brought to view. With sober questions, and with strange replies, He lays his dimpled little hand in mine ; And as I look within his radiant eyes, That strangely, with a far-off splendour, shine. 92 The Anniversary. ^ I tremble with a sense of coming ill, As if my little boy stood far apart. " Oh, clasp me closely, darling ! closer still The night hath brought a chill about my heart. The shadows gather in my little room ; I rise from out the past, for you must know That when the buds were bursting into bloom, My little darling died a year ago. 93 SUMMER. A SONG oh, a song to my love ! The breezes are whispering her name ; The sea, and the bright sky above, So changeful, yet ever the same, Her praises proclaim. Her voice cometh over the sea, And breaks with the wave on the shore ; The young hearts are shouting in glee, The old hear an echo of yore An echo of yore. And when at the dawn she is seen, Away from the town's busy throng, In dew-spangled garments of green, All Nature breaks forth into song Breaks forth into song. 94 Summer. *$. And over green valley and hill Buds burst into bloom at her voice ; Before her the tempest is still, The grief-stricken hearted rejoice At sound of her voice. A song oh, a song to my love ! Tears fall, but they fall not in vain ; The life-giving sunlight above Will strengthen and ripen the grain, Because of the rain. 95 IN THE SUNSHINE. IN the sunshine, little maiden, Gather flowers while ye may, Ere the Winter, tear be-laden, Bid the blossoms all decay, And the sunshine pass away. Listen to the music ringing Bird and stream, and flowing sea, With a thousand voices singing All that wondrous melody Sung through past eternity. So that when the song is ending, All thy inner senses may Feel the music richly blending, Calling back the Summer day, And the sunshine pass'd away. 9 6 In the Sunshine. When at last the sun is setting, And the light is wearing grey, There will be no vain regretting Of the short, short Summer day, And the sunshine pass'd away. 97 CRAZY JEAN. " OH, women, hae ye seen my bairn ? I've sought him up an' doun ; Oh, women, hae ye seen my bairn ? I've been through a' the toun. I clad him in his tartan dress, An' pinafore sae white, An' kissed him in my happiness, An' oh my heart was light. An' oh my heart was light and free, My bairnie a' my ain ; Oh, think ye will I never see His bonnie face again ? He put his arms around my neck, An' pressed his lips to mine ; 98 Crazy Jean. An' then I thought my heart would break Should I my bairnie tine. They dress'd my bairnie a' in white, When day began to daw ; An' when the day was shinin' bright, They took my lamb awa'. They took my bairn, an' left wi' me A curl o' his bright hair ; Oh, women, think ye, will I see His sweet face never mair ? The frost is hard as ony aim, The wind is bitter cauld ; Oh, wae's me on my bonnie bairn, My lamb within nae fauld ! I've sought him frae the break o' day, An' noo the day is dune, An' shadows grey lie ilka way, An' angry clouds abune. Crazy Jean. 99 An' dark, dark night is gath'rin' fast, But that I winna mind, For I will get sweet rest at last, When I my bairnie find." They found her, when the storm was past, Upon the frozen ground ; And she has got sweet rest at last, And her lost bairnie found. 100 BROOMIEKNOWE. THE hurry an' drivin', The worry an' strivin', The thousands wha under their daily cares bow, The great city's clamour, Its grandeur an' glamour, I leave for the quiet o' sweet Broomieknowe. There Nature adornin' Hersel' wi' the mornin', A bright dewy diadem circling her brow, Awakens the flowers Asleep in the bowers, Whaur nestle the birdies at sweet Broomieknowe. The birdies are singin', The echoes are ringin', An' deep are the echoes the heart has, I trow. Broomieknowe. 101 Yer een wi' tears glistenin', Sae rev'rently listenin', Ye'll hear its deep music at sweet Broomieknowe. Oh, then the glad feelin' Through ilka nerve stealin', Yer spirit in rapt adoration will bow ; An' thrilled wi' the glory Around ye an' o'er ye, A new life will fill ye at sweet Broomieknowe. The bright sky above ye, A few friends that love ye, A wee cosy cot on the side o' a howe ; There, after life's roamin', Tae rest in the gloamin', Sae calm an' sae peacefu' at sweet Broomieknowe. 102 ECHOES. OH, little flower, low bending thy young stalk, Oh, little birdie piping joyously, Here as I meet you in my early walk, A flood of mem'ries rushes over me. My own sweet flow'r-bud fresh with morning dew, My little birdie just begun to sing, And while I gazed and felt a rapture new, The song was hushed, and nipt the blossoming. Again the shadow creeps across my brow, The troubled waters rise and dim my e'e ; And as I see and hear you, even now, For his sweet sake, you both are dear to me. io 3 THE TIME OF ROSES. IT was the time of roses, We met, my love and I ; And Beauty's hand had crown'd the land, And music filled the sky. Our souls were thrilled with rapture, I know not how or why, We wandered on by wood and stream, And love was life, and life a dream, Whate'er the spell I know full well, It was the time of roses We met, my love, and I. But when the first pale snowdrop Was opening into flower, My own ! my own ! was stricken down : But saved from wind and shower To keep my heart from breaking, One little bud for dower. 104 The Time of Roses. -\ One little bud a tender care From my dead flower that was so fair, So I will trace A vanished face, When my own little snowdrop Is opening into flower. HOPE. I SEE thee standing near, oh ! bright-eyed one, I gather strength to run the life-long race ; Around thy brow I see the light of dawn, And love triumphant in thy radiant face. And thou wert with me in the early years, I followed thee through many pathways wild, And worshipped thee, and had nor doubts nor fears, But all the strong faith of a simple child. From early morn, till noon, and twilight grey, And when the. solemn stars looked down on night, In midnight visions, waking dreams by day, I walked illumined by thy mystic light. And in that early day the world was new, All wisdom dwelt, my father, then with thee ; Oh simple faith ! oh simple faith and true ! The shrine at which I knelt a mother's knee. 7 106 Hope. ^ Her gentle voice and eyes, angelic, mild, Still follow me through all the rolling years ; The bearded man looks back upon the child, And though he smiles, his eyes are filled with tean He sees a land of sunshine and of flow'rs, Receding far across an ocean wide ; And all his soul is with the golden hours, But now he hears Hope whispering at his side : " Heed not the waning glory of the west, But gird thyself to march and meet the dawn ; And with a fearless heart within thy breast, Through doubt and darkness, I will lead thee on.' TO; THE COMIN' O' SLEEP. OH, was there a bairnie like mine ever seen ? It's past ten o'clock, an' my claes no in steep ; He looks in my face wi' his bright laughin' een, An' shouts oot a hearty defiance at sleep. He ran oot an' in till the gloamin' cam' doun, His face and his hands wad hae fyled ony sweep, I cleaned him, an' trampit the floor rotm' an' roun', But a' to nae purpose, he'll no' fa' asleep. I've tauld him I'm certain a score o' times owre, " The piggies that gaed to the market " in vain, His een that I lippen to close only glower, An* aye he cries " Mama ! the ' piggies ' again." I warm his wee taes, but the bairnie's in grief, An' sobbin' you'd think his wee heartie would break ; He knuckles his half-closin' een wi' his nieve, An' stares in my face aince again, wide awake. io8 The Comiri