ON A SPRIG OF HEATHER.

FLOWER of the waste! the heath-fowl shuns For thee the brake and tangled wood— To thy protecting shade she runs,

Thy tender buds supply her food; Her young forsake her downy plumes, To rest upon thy opening blooms.

Flower of the desert though thou art!
The deer that roam the mountain free,
The graceful doe, the stately hart,

Their food and shelter seek from thee;
The bee thy earliest blossom greets,
And draws from thee her choicest sweets.

Gem of the heath! whose modest bloom
Sheds beauty o'er the lonely moor;
Though thou dispense no rich perfume,
Nor yet with splendid tints allure,
Both valour's crest and beauty's bower,
Oft hast thou decked, a favourite flower.

Flower of the wild! whose purple glow
Adorns the dusky mountain's side,
Not the gay hues of Iris' bow,

Nor garden's artful varied pride,
With all its wealth of sweets could cheer,
Like thee the hardy mountaineer.

Flower of his heart! thy fragrance mild
Of peace and freedom seem to breathe;
To pluck thy blossoms in the wild,

And deck his bonnet with the wreath,
Where dwell of old his rustic sires
Is all his simple wish requires.

Flower of his dear-loved native land!
Alas, when distant far more dear!
When he from some cold foreign strand,
Looks homeward through the blinding tear,

How must his aching heart deplore,

That home and thee he sees no more.

O'ER THE MUIR AMANG THE HEATHER.

COMIN' through the craigs o' Kyle,
Amang the bonnie bloomin' heather,
There I met a bonnie lassie
Keepin' a' her flocks thegither.

Ower the muir1 amang the heather,
Ower the muir amang the heather,
There I met a bonnie lassie
Keepin' a' her flocks thegither.

Says I, my dear, where is thy hame ?2
In muir or dale, pray tell me whither ?
Says she, I tent the fleecy flocks

That feed amang the bloomin' heather.
Ower the muir, etc.

We laid us down upon a bank,

Sae warm and sunnie was the weather;
She left her flocks at large to rove
Among the bonnie bloomin' heather.
Ower the muir, etc.

She charmed my heart, and aye sinsyne3
I couldna think on ony ither;4
By sea and sky! she shall be mine,
The bonnie lass amang the heather.
Ower the muir, etc.

1 Moor.

2 Home.

3 Ever since then.

4

Any other.

MY AIN FIRESIDE.

OH! I hae seen great anes1, and sat in great ha's,2
'Mong lords and 'mong ladies a' covered wi' braws,3
At feasts made for princes, wi' princes I've been,
Where the grand shine o' splendour has dazzled my e'en ;
But a sight sae delightfu', I trow, I ne'er spied,
As the bonnie blythe blink o' my ain fireside.

My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
O cheery's the blink o' my ain fireside.

My ain fireside, my ain fireside,

O there's nought to compare wi' my ain fireside.

Ance mair, Gude be praised, round my ain hearthsome ingle,4

Wi' the friends o' my youth I cordially mingle;

Nae forms to compel me to seem wae or glad,

I may laugh when I'm merry, and sigh when I'm sad ;

Nae falsehood to dread, and nae malice to fear,

But truth to delight me, and friendships to cheer;
Of a' roads to happiness ever were tried,

There's nane half so sure as ane's ain fireside.

My ain fireside, my ain fireside,

O there's nought to compare wi' my ain fireside.

1 Ones,

2 Halls,

3 Finery.

4 Fireside.

When I draw in my stool on my cosy hearthstane,
My heart loups1 sae light I scarce ken't2 for my ain,
Care's down on the wind, it is clean out o' sight,
Past troubles they seem but as dreams o' the night.
There but kind voices, kind faces I see,
And mark saft3 affection glent fond frae ilk e'e ;5
Nae fleechings o' flattery, nae boastings o' pride,
'Tis heart speaks to heart at ane's ain fireside.

My ain fireside, my ain fireside, O cheery's the blink o' my ain fireside. My ain fireside, my ain fireside,

.5

O there's nought to compare wi' my ain fireside.

1

Leaps.

2 Know it.

3 Soft.

Shines. 5 From each eye.