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Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques

1980

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, ^'
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137 9
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CXCrxDOc

JOHN WALKER'S C0UL.3HIP.

R LEGEND OF LAUDERDALE. K

scenes long pn^st of joy and pain

Game wildf-ring o'er hiit aged I ra<n.

— W^Uter, Scotti

BY "ALBYN."

8
9

PRINTED BY JAMES 60WES AND SONS, HALIFAX.

1877,

PR
37 9
"S21J(b

rxjcr:

10:

JOHN JAMES STEWART
COLLECTION

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JOHN WALKER'S COURTSHIP.

LEGEND OF LAUDERDALE.

scenes long past of joy and pain

Came wildering o'er his aged brain.

— Walter Scott.

BY "ALBYN."pseo<i.

I I <

'i'*

PRINTED BY JAMES BOWES AND SONS, HALIFAX.

1877.

S3CS - /V/oy 2./23

JOHN WALKER'S COURTSHIP.

A LEGEND OF LAUDERDALE.

BY ALIJYN.

"^ /^' ^

AXCiUTD aiul loit'nng in tho shjide,
( ^^j IJy leafy pines and niai)los made,

" We pause, to ponder o'er
What visil)le can yet he seen
Left looniin<i; up, of all between
Us and- the heretofore.

Associate of the Poets pen —
Erato, come and aid us, when

We lift oblivions veil,
And in ima<>ination gaze
Upon the scenes of youthful days.

In lovelv Lauderdale.

Familiar once, — familiar now,

Down '' Leader" vale the waters flow,

Oft curbed in their speed.
In infoncy, 'tho' rather rude ;
Yet by and bye more like a prude

Commingle with the Tweed.

^luch that was pleasing in the past
Is now from mem'ry fading fast.

Or only dimly seen.
But still there live some anecdotes
That lead, like memorandum notes.

To what has erewhile been.

•V

Wo look .'iioimd, and feel it strancre
'rii.'it iiotliinir tlicro ai>i)('ars to chancro ;

None need to (piestioii how !
Moro .stranov that - lioox " which once iK>sse.s.sM
A charm more potent than tiie rest.

Has no attraction now.

Ladies — tiiis vajrary in verse

For yonr aninsenient we reliearse—

'Twas penciil'd for onr own.
And t'lo' Creations' Lords pooh, pooli,
At least some conntenanee by you

To poetry is sliown.

Somethinjr cxcitinrr, «^entienien
Do ci'ave for relaxation, when

Fi'om luisincss tliey unl»end.
Thence is it that the Tlieatre they
Prefer, unto the sweetest lay

That ever Poet penn'd.

Their appetites and their ideas.
Seem of a coarser caste than these

In figures feniim'ne ;
And in the structure of the mind,
Are constituted of a kind

More Doric in desitni.

The rustic cou[)lets we create,
Tho' never in a faultless state ;

Yet as they limp along
From pride and affectation free,
The softer sex can in them see

The symmetry of song.

(

, t

When morch.'uit princes' tono^noH nw nnite,
And niillionairo.s now in repnte

Do no ren«enil)ninoe share,
What they have deeni'd as vahieless,
In eyes like Sedj^wiek's may [)ossess

The ciiarni ol' relics rare.

They err who deem we're callons grown,
Whether a favonr or a frown,

Onr pencillinj^s repay.
Admittini^ we're to censnre prone.
There's not a friendly look or tone

On ns been tlnng away.

O sweet tiie words of praise approves,
What " Albyn" sings, from lips lie loves

From Isabella, yonrs.
Sweeter than odonrs that distil
From the Mayflowers on ^Manorhill,

In summers suiniy hours.

That ostracism is the fate
Our idyl's advent ma}- await —

Already we surmise.
But with the bijouterie will share
A place in the ]i(Judoii-, and there

Be scanned with eager eyes.

Lord (not Ben) Russell said one time
That things (no doubt including rhyme)

Tho' made a little rough.
That is, — not in the finest stvle,
Yet for tiie Colonists a while,

They might do well enough.

■:j

4^ !

Not so, tliinks Rm knosk; ov'ry iiimii
Of tlu'iM will have the host ho can,

Tho nicest of the nice ;
Kveii should it be the merest whim.
Is of no conse(inence to him,

Xor what mav he the price I

Away trom such we look aroimd,
Where other t'oihles are found

Can lend a i)leasin<,^ thrill ;
Where, rid of i»rande:ir and of gloom
The Muses protogechas room

To revel at his will.

Lord Ivussell's (licdiin us a whole
May not this pen of oiu's control,

Xor curl) (>ur crude desi<rns.
We smile o'er some deformity
The critics in our coujjlets spy ;

Xor hlnsh at limping lines.

I'erhaps some idle aftei'iioon,
For recreation Ave may prune

Exuberant (k1(]s and ends ;
And syllables that's harsh, rei)lace
With those of a becomin"; sxracc.

No connoisseur olfends.

Now, gentle dames — not gentlemen —
Indulge the Amateur till when

In some auspicious hour,
A Poem perfectly nnique,
He may from the Pierian peak

Of mount f^irnassus pe+u:. ^.^.^u*. j

M'lifit(!\>i' «)Ceaiilily Miss Ivms Itoon
ApportioiiM to our lot, Itotwcen

Tlu* ( r.'idki and the <2;ravc,
?s'()t <)ii,i;lit lii'sido til'.' j^onial t>l<)\v.
"J'liat only niinihtT.s can hcstow,

It has hi'cii ours to crave.

'The nu'lancholy mounds that toll
AVliere erst the warriors fouuiit and lell

In l)()r<ier feud and Iray,
S'tirr'd up emotions ol' a l<iM(l,
Shook the foundations of our mind.

And haunt us ni<jfht and day.

'l\i hide the horrors of the i»asl
Thero Nature has a cov'ring cast

Tw dra]H'ry of ijreen ;
Tho' frowning on the precipice,
The feu(hd t(twer, and fortalice

As souvenirs are seen.

Of such traditionary lore.
Our lexical! ii\ heretofore

By Scotia's classic streams,
In all the rustic raciness
And fascinaticHs they possess,

Are Albyn's airy dreams.

Among the comforts and the cares
That come uncall'd, oft unawares,

With or without an aim,
INInch of the '' days of other years " -
To us familiarh' ai)pears

And our attention claim.

They arc not all ilhisiaiiH these
At nmsing hours that Albj'ii see«.

Into his presencti come.
Nor arc the visitations rare
Of siicli as Time consents to si)arc*.
Nor are they always dumb.

How fondly still on fancy borne
The milkmaids song at early morn.

By lovers deem'd divine,
We seem to hear, even the refrain
Repeated o'er and o'er again,

So dear in lan<;. LANciSYXi:!

Nor time, nor distance have destroyed
llememberance of what we enj<iy'd

At the sunsetting" hour ;
As list'ning to the music, when
The chorister iu Cleughsiile glen

Their ev'ning anthem pour.

Unchanged, unchangable to me,
As er.st my native vale I see.

And feel my bosom thrill.
A schoolboy at the school, and yet
Where Mary Crozier used to sit.

She is there sitting still.

Aye, it is her, the glossy hair.

Brown eyes and rosey cheeks are there

\\\ all their girlish glow ;
How strange it is that she alone,
AVlien all our other chums arc gone,

In mem'ry lingers now.

She socms to have such startled look,
Nidewnys from oft' her copy hook

Tliat is hefore her laid ;
As wluMi one day she with a twitch
Snatched from the teachers hand a switch,

For punishment display'd.

-\h : days of youth I can we forffet
That witching hour when first we met

Her, in tlie i)rimrose ulen.
^'or is it all a l.oyish dream,
For l»eautiful in the extreme

Was Mary Crozier then.

iJnt now her grave is only there,
The sole memorial that we share

Of what she erst has been ;
Of every female grace possess'd,
Ere death, life's current did arrest,

Whilst in her earliest teen.

A i)ar(lonable weakness known
As the home fever, we must own,

Comes in some quiet hour ;
And episodes once fondly nursed,
J.ike floods oblivion currents burst

O'er mom'ry whelming pour.

Such frenzy as the farmers eye.

Shows when the rain-cloud's coming nigh

In summer drought are seen.
Even so on fragments of the i)ast,
Altho' with shadows overcast,

We prodigal have been.

'■'■'t

'Hiere is no foravc; Fviiown anioiTor,
The liordor fells inviting aong,

Where b.'ittleb rands were crossM ;
And who the victory did achieve,
But what we couh] from time retrieve

^Vcre the traditions lost.

JJesides some features in the life
Of such as led on to the strife,

And did some valiant deed ;
Noble's the word we almost wrote.
And tho' ])efitting for a Scot,

Wrong with a Kerr to read.

lieshrew mv heart if thev forget
What ruthlessnes our father's met»

When right was lost in migiit.
Tho' seven decades have pass'd since then.
We conld, with three strokes of our [)en,

The compliment requite.

Just retribution is our creed,
But ''will not," ever in its stead.

Revenge fulness pursue.
And tho' unto the '• manor born,"
All traits of vassalage Ave scorn,

^NIaiu^ulsks deem their due.

Avails it aught I the .\iudal hand
Press'd heavily ; we love the land,

Albeit, the Baron's will,
Tho' limited by cluirch and !i,tate
In fixing a Retainers fate,

Is dominant there still.

From haughty airs and with'ring words
That with a title ill. accords,

AVe turn away to gaze
AVith mingled feelings on the spot
'J'hat never can be all forjjot,

The IIoMi-: of youthful days.

What tho' unerring in their aim,
The shafts of death do there proclaim

The desolation made ;
Yet for beyond the artists' skill,
The dear familiar faces still,

On memory, are portray'd.

Part of the household sleeping sound,
Within the family burial ground

Are gather'd side by side;
Part went to Canada to die.
Part in Yandiemen's Land to lie,

But none there now abide.

Oxnam, the least of border streams.
But was the nurse of Albyn's dreams

And gave his temper tone.
Is beautiful, tho' not less wild,
Than a fond mother's fretful child.

To pouting always prone.

Uncursed by engineering skill.
It shows some waywardness, until

The bridge annoys it ; then
AVithout a moment of repose,
Torn by the splinter'd rocks, it Hows

Indignant down the glen.

0, deem not strange a son of song
Finds joy in lingering' so long.

O'er the soul-stirring scene,
'I'liat in " Latig Si/ne'" and far away
Thro' ev'ry hour of ev'ry da}',

The world to him has been.

<) ! lovely landscape, what delight
Associates witii the llenwood height,

The C'ragtower and Cleughside,
And Dovesluiugh copse, — 'tis there, 'tis there,
If ever on this earth it were.

Now hap[)iness must hide.

Some incidents, more than tiie rest,
That nameless sanctities invest

T'o gladden or to grieve ;
We from oblivions giant pow'r.
For, pastime, in a playful hour

Are tempted to retrieve,

Stories from lips that long ago

In death are sealed, did tell of woe

Or peals of laughter 'wake ;
Just as they were, the where, the when,
To us, in broad naivele, then

Are told without mistake.

Some niorceciKs of a modest kind
The Antiquarians hence will fiud,

Inwoven with our rhymes ;
Of such a courtship that we know.
To misses in their teens will show

Transition in the times.

lere.

Aid mo, O imise I the muse that breatlies
In whispers,— words that Albyn wreathes

In fascinating lays,
And with such coinage what he owes
(Distinguishing his friends from foes)

His obligations pa3s.

Perhaps '• a dre.m" becomes the boo >,
Or in the shape of a lampoon

The cheque in verse is made
In liquidation of our debt ;
One " trio" will not soon forget

The '' Retribution" paid.

When in the n.ood a pasquinade
At once can addle-pates persuades

To silence for a while ;
Or if the knaves should perverse be.
Both " Iloneyman " and '' Ben " know.— we

Can polish otf in style.

Nay, more, in an ill omen'd hour.
The fierce Groiila felt what pow'r

Is in our pencilling.
Nor could his legal verbiage save
Him from the blistering we gave

The rabid, reckless thing,

Tho' justice is our standard, still
We are not wanting in good will —

For no ignoble end,
But as a looking-glass for those
In Nova Scotia, BdU's and Ihaux,

This miniature have penn'd.

V".

'!i '

■ 'i

A BroclHiri' for the Rondoir iiicet,
Or lovers in a tete .1 tete,

To trifling talk inclined ;
As on the photoirraph they glance.
Of course will in the circumstance

A pleasing proniptei' find.

rndelicacv is no part
Legitimately of the art,

To ijoetry pei-tains ;
It is to please, instruct, amuse,
And purity of mind infuse,

For this the Poet reigns.

One type of courtship we pourtray,
Deem'd fashionable in our day,

Now obsolete become :
But by the muses, mystic aid.
May ill the i)resent age be made

Amusing unto some.

Not as a classic mode, the few
Will question of it being true, —

The border plan we deem,
But when compared with Avhat is now
Found requisite, we must allow

It merits our esteem.

What time our '• boys" and ''girls " do find,
A tickling from the boy that's blind,

Tnfiituated they ;
So anxious that the world should know
Their '' Lciison " like a public show, —

Are careful to displa}-.

iii<l.

T>x'tr.ivagant in 'ilio oxtroino,
Tli« traits of gallantry do socin,

Some boardloss youth (Miiploys ;
Whilst the dovotion tibatlac iiiofiRs,
A budding ])oauty in lior toons

I'nhlusliingly enjoys.

Tho frenzy, whether felt or foign'd.
-Miinitely has to be niaintainiVi

Lost Lkila take the pouts,
And if liyany chance, ithe JNIiss
i)n night, be wanting of her kiss —

None tie dwioueniont doubts.

l^r what «f love onr legend tolls,
We crave indulgence from the BeMes,

The lieanx will not condemn ;
•So may, in honour of the sex.
The memorandums we annex

Pi-ovo amulets to them.

Such is the Proem, our <lesign
Is visible in every line

If conn'd witJi connnon care,— •
And Avhat is in the sequel seen
For ages has in Scotland been,

A'or yet unfrequent there.

One Summer ev'ning C'elia stood
Beside me in a musing mood.

About the setting sun ;
Tell me, she said, you are aware,
Tn Scotland, how a love affair

"With young folks is boirun.

From- eliiklhoocl I have always Jiad
A strong propensity to add,

fStrange stories of tlie past^
I'nto the Album in my mind,
Especially what I can tind

Of an outlandish caste.

Nothing can lend me more delight^
Than list'ning unto, or recite

Bon mots of anticxue mould, —
Or auy sayings tluit are shrewd ;
It matters not how quaint or crude^

Provided they are oltl

With vast experience Israel's King:
Confess'd love imikiny; was a thinir

lie could not comprehend ;
There may be still some subtile art
To captivate a nuiiden's heart

No Poet yet has penn'd ;

What tho' I maybe counted green
Among the spectres that are seen

Fre(iuenting Cupid's court,
My choice is rather to be spared
The obliquy of being snared

Or hurt by him for sport ;

Tho' but a novice, 1 have laughed
To see an ill-directed shaft

That from his quiN'er came.
13ut should he try another shot^
It may be Just as Uke as not

He'll take a better aim.

It IS not all an idle ^ost,

Thut is comprised in my voqnes't:

For tUo' tho Roy ho blind,
""Pis not impossible some day
The tantalizino- tyrant may

In me aTietir.i find.

Amidst those biterestinp; years,
;So rod(,lent of hopes and fears,

"With girlhood intervenes.
Ah 1 who would gniduv m their behalf
A pasje of life or para<>;raph

Whilst trav'ling thro' their teens,

IToAv fruitful then a friendly hint
Too trivial to be placed in i)iint.

To Index on the nnnd.
There innocence in peril may
With conunon sense to lead the wav,

A ready reck'ner fmd.

Tile anecdote, and repartee.
Seem more familiar unto me,

And are remembered more
Than lectures or orations made,
Altho' the audience do persuade

To a repeating o'er.

When syllal)les are smoothly knit,
And tlie enigma blends with wit,

They long on mem'ry tloat ;
And odds and ends, at leisure hours.
That trickle from that tongue of yours.

Can never be forgot.

■I' I

1(5

Here CVlia puuscd, and All)yirs IimiuE
Was waved, as if it did deiiumd

Attention fj'oni liis j^irest ;
f)r IVoni oblivion gather in
Ueniinisc-enees, to ))e«;in

ScMik? long l(>i«;otteii jent.

Deem it not stranj^e, tliat (iuFetn(»s.s.
The Ilenuitaji'e lias in excess,

Was^ Imiiislied for a time.
And in Inr-r own jKHniliar mode
That alwavs is a littlie odd,

The Poet ixjnr'd out rhyme.

Well, ("elia, listen, I'll relate
One instanei' of an oldish date,

llitrc how some yoinit2;sters woo ;
And to amuse you with the fun,
Tell how the eourtinj; is hegnin

And how 'tis finished too.

Less of the flourish, more of fact.
Than Nova Scotia Belles exact

From their obedient Beaux.
Few indications there are seen
Of how the inclinations lean,

Ere the proceedings close ;

None of the glitter and the glare,
Seen here to be the special care,

Alike with low and high.
kSo. prodigal, it leaves no room
Between the Bride and the Bridegroom.

For love to take a shy ;

ill
III

M'ide Is llic (litl'crciico liotwt'cn
'Those 111 my MJilivc land, I wt'cn,

And fhiHr BliuMioscs h<»}ist.
ITcrc. to I'xhilMl »fivos dcliiilit. —
A H:isli. ihon vniiish out <»t' sight,

WlioM tlio iMHiator's oross'd.

It will ai'lmil of no flispiito.

That Maimiins sc^iiu'tiiiics in a suit.

Do kindly intorpo!- ;* ;
-And. niosliM in their iiianrpiivros. soon
AVith bridal tour — and honovmoon.

Tile cdiniax lias a closo.

None of that nn-kot kind of way,
So lashioiiabk* in our day,

And prized by IJeaiix and Belles,
Is over to be scon anion<r
The simple nistics. that belong

To Scotland's glens and fells.

The flowers and figures that are wove
Into the mysteries of Love,

A Poet's stock in trade.
Admiring them as beautiful,
We leave Lhjlators to cull

Their "• omens and their aid."

Another pathway ours to tread
In far off lands, by mem'ry led

We reaeh a ruin, where
The hero and the heroine
(iavo birth to this Brochure of mine,

Became a happy pair.

Tlicro jiro exceptions ; t'vei'.vwlu-ri*
Lovt' (MU be secret, it is lavu

A I'oikIiicss to ciiiil'cs.s,
Modes tiiv exlwiustless, only now-
One specimen njirnite to you

in native nakcdnesH.

flohn, — I tliinlv Wnlkci', — was his nanif.
/ That in some Ivind of Border liame,
A local lame had won —
"I'is lon^i; aii«», l»nt still I can
Renieniher him. — a line yt)vm<^ man, —
A widow's only son.

.lohn had a modest, ([uiet way,
111 cy'rythin*;' he had to say,

And ev'rvthinuj he did.
KVn when a favor he conterr'd,
(Perhaps in that lie rather err'd.)

lie tried to keej) it hid.

'I'oo youn<2; to be iilentilied

^^'ith what is in '' (indeman" ini[)lied.

His maxims sometimes crude ;
Yet did the iioighhors look on John
As a domestic paragon

In moral rectitude.

Consistent in his daily walk,
lie had no time for idle talk,

In rural lal)our skill'd, —
And if creation had a charm
More than his mother, from his farm,

The philter was distill'd.

Tlio'^jilwiiys Ik'M ill hio-h esteem.
Ye't Cclia — yoii nrc not to cU'Cin,

He (lid all moil cncoI ',
ll^it tMs not lU'pos.sarv nil
He was, or was not. to recall.

Like those who stories tell.

■•lohn was. so will the sequel show.
What N'ova Seotiaiis eall a Hean,

To eoiiJiin<r i\'\{ inelined :
-\n(l comin^i,^ from the Kirk one day
l\y ehanee. fell in with Jenny (Jray,

The dauj^hter of a Hind.

It was the sajiie next Sahbath dav.
What time the serviec e:.led, tliev

.Alet. as l)efore they met,
And wendlni; homeward very slow-
Some jn'ople said who oLijrht to know,

Tliey parted with regret.

.lenny. albeit a rnstie maid,

To her admirers seemed a shade

Above a peasant's i>laee ;
Her faultless tigure and her mien
Might have been copied l)y a Queen,

Although of Brunswick's race.

Devoted at an early age

A mother's sutferings to assauge,

Did not her life eclipse,
Nor did ;i lathers open ear
A fretful whisper ever hear

I'-scaping from her lips.

' ' iii'i':'

l\l:<

"N7r n'c-n'jition she ooiild share
Aliko 11 frolic and a '• fair"

AVerc unto her (k'nied ;
Xor might her female friends beguirc
To leave herdiarge with them a while..

Though frequently tiiey tried.

With convaleseenee came a change.
When it was thouuht no longer stranu'e

To see a smiling face ;
A half deeatle of dee[) distress.
Ol' walehing and of weariness.

Then hatl not left a trace.

A cottage near the i)u))lic road

In LeaderA'ali', was .lohn's abode —

A beautiful retreat ;
There lirst the nuise her protege
(A bUxMuing girl she seemed to me)

Did in the (jluamin greet.

Jn situation and good taste

Its whole descri[)tion is embraced,

Antl its surroundings showed
How nuK'h the culture and the care.
The foliage and the flow'rets there

Tnto the owner owed.

Tourists, and travelers, too, have been
Enchanted with the lovely scene,

And. freed from toil and care,
l)y the delightful domicile
Have stay'd their steps a little while.

And tasted pleasure there.

'■(iii;

Among the hordes that always swarm
In harvest time about a farm,

Some lithe, and laggard some.
Distinguish'd from the motley squad,
A very likely looking lad

To Carolside did come.

With more than ev'n a reaper's pride,
And mine was great, oft Carolside

To me still present seems,
JNIueh there has been that now is not,
But O, that d^'.r, delightful spot

Commingles witii my dreams.

Just as tlie moon began to rise
One ev'ning, John, to his suri)rise,

fSaw in the twilight dim
The stranger's hand a moment rest
On Jenny Gray ; the bitterest

Of bitterness to him.

Half stupified. and startled too,
Lost in conjectures wliat to do.

Or what to leave alone ;
What if imaginary ; still
It was an element of ill

He had not counted on.

There must have been impressions made
In the attentions that were i)aid,

Design'd or undesign'd ;
And it was cruel to suspect
That Jenny, always so correct.

To flirting was. inclined.

' I '

That iiicfht John did not slecij n wfnk
For tliinkini^, tho' he could not tliiuk

Of aii<j,ht but Jenny Gray ;
And tho' more than is eonniion sliy,
Resolved at last his luck to try,

And hear what she would say.

A stransi'cr to decei)tive ways,
Yet knew the dandier of delays,

And at the twiliiiiit hour
Dressed u[; in ijo-to-meeting trim,
A thing unusual with him.

Set otf to Whitslade Tower.

'I'hat ruin'd tower, to me eudear'd
Ky legendary tales, and weird

With shadows o'er them cast ;
And cottages that cluster round
Are still in mem'ry to be found

"When [)ictMring the past.

Xor had the gallant long to wait.
For as he reached the oi»en gate

There, milking-pail in hand,
Stood Jenny ; but she stood amazed.
And they at one another gazed.

No words at their command.

''O, darling, is it you that's here,"
John stammered out at last. " O, dear!

O. ine ! I am so j^Ieased ;
I just came o'er the niglit to see
How it would be — how it will be,"

And then her hand he seized.

Jenny was silent for a wliile.

And tlien, between a frown and smile.

Said : " John, what do vou mean ?
You act so very strange to-night,
That 1 am really in a fright,

Bless me, where havej-ou been?"

*' O, Jenny, do not be afraid.

Not in the least, of me," John said :

'• I would not hurt a hair
lielongsto you, — but speak at once
And say if I have any chance

A thought of youi-s to share.

" You are indeed so very good,
You will not, cannot think me rude.

Tho' we are here alone ;
And if you do my boldness blame,
I must, I shall put in a claim

To have 3'ou for my own."

Jenny was startled — who would not
At such a time, in such a spot.

If not quite dark, yet dim ;
And tho' she might his errand guess.
Yet her surprise was none the less

At meeting there with him.

If it had been the neii^hbor lad.
Or even the miller's man, that had

Then coming thro' the yard,
But very little, tho' alone,
Friendly, not free with every one,

The lassie would have cared.

f
i"

Ad. CeTia I^ cleeni iio^t strange that when
John Walker stoixl hofore her then,

It' min<iied with her smile
A nnmeless ho[>e, a nameless fear,
And ever ■MK'Qnsclousl3' a tear^

Con I her for a while.

She was a woman, C'elia I nay,
Bnt lips that eurl as yours do, may

O'er i>rudeiiee yet prevail ;
And you ! yes, you, we can supposc-
Miji'ht be aeeounted odd hv those

That live in Lauderdale.

^lind. she was youni;. and primitive
In manners, more than them that live

In towns and eities are,
A nd (jnite excusable the way
She did such awkwardness dis[)lay,

When met with unaware.

In modern days, perha[)S, she might
13e held 1)V Halifax elite

As vulgar in her way ;
But not a lad in Leader side
That would a richly dower'd bride

Prefer to Jennv (Jrav.

There came suspense — a painful thrill-
Pulsation in the heart stood still

To hear the res[)onse come ;
And all above, around, beneath.
Were as the denizens of death,

Without exception, dumb.

h was deep silence ; nothing stirred :
yUiU\ all was mute, and not a word

Allowed to break the spell.
Cntil a l)owing of the head,
Anspieiously interpreted,
V ToM what there was to tell.

1 he c);csen one was fii^t her fate
To own, and to reei])rocate.

Consideration won ;
Xor kei)t aloof to ken how far
It nn'ght be hers to make or mar
The blessedness begun.

*' Well, John," she said, '• I am so glad
M'hat such a sober, decent lad

As yon are known to l)e,
Xor deem it meet to question why
Von pass so many beauties l)y.

And come here courting me.

^' What will the shepherd of CJackmar,
Ah, yes, and ]3oyd of Blainslie say.

Or him of Coomslyhill?
Tho' not sweethearts of mine, yet thev
Do speak to me in such a way

As lads to lassies will.

••All, all the gossips that we ken,
Xot less the women than the men

At me will have a shy ;
My cousin Kate, among the rest.
Js always ready with a jest

To sli]) in very sly.

I ■
I

iiv

w^.

|l ;'.-':■

I,.
I. 'I'

■il'll,:

'%:

»))»!,■

13 (»

•• A fav'ritc (iv'rvwlu'ro is Kate,
And ovon since an carlv dato

Liko sisters we have been ;
lint what I c(Mild not now repeat
Without a blush, vet when we meet

Will certainly be seen.

'• A wierd-likohai>: came here last week
l*retendin<^ that she could not speak,

Hut, with a piece of chalk,
Takin<^ a curious squint at me.
As plain as anytliin<]i; can l)e.

Wrote on "the table ' W A L K— *

•• None of us then could comprehend
What these four letters did intend ;

But I've a notion now
That if I read the riddle right,
W'hatever brought you here to-night,

The key has come with you.

• • The master said this afternoon
Wq are to have our Kirn as soon

As e'er the reaping's o'er ;
lint if you come, you're not to be
One bit more couthie ways with me

Than what you was before.

"' If there be kissing: Och ! it is
No use in putting •■ if to this ;

No doubt but there will be
A rudeness that creates disgust ;
I only mention, so you must

Not practice then on me.

:i 1

" And if, ill ovltino- thro' adjiiioo.
Wo mei't ton-otliLT, like l»y chance.

We may a smile exclian<»e ;
Hut '.vlicii the lads and lasses [)air
'I'ogo awa}-, if I'm not there

Von need not think it strange.

•• 'iho' not as once it may luive hccii.
Still there are little inklinos seen

Of thin.iis maiiranders did;
Nor ill to find here some have lujt
The Border m ixims yet forgot.

And do Mhat they're forI)id.

•• So. when you do come here to spark,
Tf it should hapiien to be dark.

Or at a lateish hour,
Go round the Cairn on AVhitsladc
There is a gang- of (iipsies now

Encanii)ing in the Tower.

•• Yestreen one of them tried to kill
The miller's man, of Thirlstane mill,

lUit Stephen is so stroiio-.
He down the thorny cleugii this side
Of where the IJoondriech waters glide.

The ruflian hurled headlong.

•• You know that is not for me
'i'o say what their designs may he ;

But. whether right or wrong.
One rule with them is absolute,
That anything they see will suit

Must unto them belon<y."

1 1 row

'•' iiut, are you sure, for mercy's sak(%
III ease there should l»e a mistake,

From Avhtit you see and hear?
I'erhaps it may l»e (piite as well
At the hejiiiminjj;, just to tell

I've neither gold nor goai'."

"• Ilusii. Jenny, hush I take earc, taki' i-art- 1
Ui'sponded John ; " it is not lair

To prattle about iH'lf ;
Ofeovetousuess I am free.
Save what excusal)le ma}' he —

The coveting yoiu'self.

" No sight or sound on earth can be
So laden with delight to me,

As when I hear vou si)eak ;
The very air so sweet and i)ure.
And still I scarcely can endure

It playing on my cheek.

••Then, O, be careful what vou say,
jMy thoughts are scatter'd ev'ry way.

Nor breathe of gear and gold ;
Such floods of joy are tembling thro*
My heart in lovingness to you,

As never mav be told.

'"Nor less my soul impatience shows.
As. startled out of calm repose.

It flutters up and down-
Now in my brain, now in my breast,—
Nor leaves to me a moment's rest.

My ha[)piness to own.

•' And, Joiiny, it seems early yet
To inino-le pleasure with reoret.

Or eoiijure up, to-niglii.
What may or may not be our share
Of ills, — lelieities im[)air.

And aspirations blioht.

••Has it not been unfortunate
That many in the married state

For hicre barter'd love ;
As in the sequel of their lives,
Whether as husbands or as wives,

It does disastrous prove.

'• Had it been in my mind to seek
For ' siller,' there is Annie Meek.

Known to be rich, but still
Would willingly be made my l)ride.
And all the Lainl left her beside

To sugar-coat the pill."

He ceased, and in a list'ning state
Stood mute, as if he did await

An answer to be made ;
So Jenny, re-assured, began
To say, as females only can.

What she had left unsaid.

" I'm either pleased or proud, or it
]May be some other feeling, yet

I have no name for now.
Or parti}- both ; I do confess
It seems to me like happiness.

But know not why or how.

svt

" fill inure tliuii pleased, for F rejoice
'foliii Walker Iras made iite his dioicn „

And' i)asse(r h\ I-eila Stnmu' :
J often tluMinlii that l^eila sliare<l
♦ Nmsidvrahly in y<Hrr rejjfard'.

Althoiijirb r iiKiv he wroniiv

'• And tlwrc is Bessie l>l<K)nrK('l<l. t
Sonic folk iniai^inu voii did \v<xv.

( X I'.,

i\-rl

laps it is not true

\\\\\ if von e\er |)roiinsed iier,
Me (-arcl'nl of liei" (^lal•aeter,

SincT' yo\i Uave ta'eii the rnc

*• Another thing, before wo part.-

M\ inothe

If it lui'jik my heart.

In casi" that we siioitld err.
Keep this in iniivd, wimte'er thi' woi"
it l>ring,s to me, if slie says • \o.'

We must he as wo were.

-• This niav seem Ux>kin<»' tar aheaiL
Ihit tlien I do not see the nee(l

'I'hiit you should dangle on :
And tlio' we don't exactlv see
What may in the hereafter be,

I tliink rU take you, John.

'• "fis not the first tune in my life
i\t> had the chance to be a wife, —

us may be pipers news

But tho' with you so very free,
.Mind, that is not to hinder me
()/' all mij courting f7»t'.s."

*" I'iiici's news" lirk'lly oxpros^ps whut is tlioii told us as
Miiiiotliiii;> lliut is gcnoniUy known at the time.

■I'l

Ah : lilllc cillicr of llicni k\]v^K

' riio Cow-herd hoy. tho' out of vu-i*.

JIo.iimI cv'rv word wjis sai<l
.Nor was it lono- b(.(<)iv tlio oil'.
\s oiilorln'niriK'ut to hunscli".

The rcAchilloM made.

Dot's Cclhi Hinih'? nh ! TV't'll slic ni!i\s
.At siicli nil oxpoditious way, —

I h<'n''.s DO lovc-iiiakMto: now
Like what wah then In Scotland done;
aCioli, (Vl<» ! tlitit is their <lan,<j:hter's son

Comes here a coiirtiijo v<>u,

A l»hish that found no hiding jtlaeo
■Seem'd j^lowing u])on Celia's faee.

As .she o-j^zed into inine ;
"I'iien. turning where the organ stood,
•Sung in a soul-entrancing meed,
And played to us " La»^ Spic.''

CKLIA\S .SOX(i.

I long onoe more the vale to sec,

The vale where ''Leader" flows;
The broom is there so dear to me.

The broom o' the Cowdenknowes
Ciioms — O, days that came on rainltow wing.
And as a rain bow shone,
How fondly they to mem'ry cling.
Now when thev all are ixouv.

n'2

I low oft in youth I'vo waiidor'd Avlicn*
Tlio l)rooin and lioatlicr grows,

J^iit saw not aiijj^ht tljat niijjjlit coinpan'
With hrooni o' tho C'owdonknowi's.
(), days that conio, &.c.

On IJhilnslio hrao.s tho sun at eve

A bonny blink bestows,
Hut fondly kisses ere it h-ave

The bnjoni o' the Cowdenknowes,
(). days tliat come, &c.

Say "Seotland," and my bosom still
With fev'rish i)leasure <>lows.

lint more a word can make it thrill
That sounds like '^ Cowdenknowes."
O, days that eomc, &c.

Tho' beautiful the Mayflowers l)loonj

Amid the winter snows.
They have no charm to me like broom — •

'VUq bvoom o' the Cowdenknowes.
O, days that come, &c.

Away far hence, by fancy led,
Where lovers breathe their vows,

E'en now among the broom we tread, —
Tiie broom o' the Cowdenknowes.
O, d.iys that come, &c.

Mi^-mmi^^^^*''^-'

;. I