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 Progressive Changes
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 c 
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES 
 
 A COLLECTION OF 
 
 HUMEHOUS POEMS 
 
 15 v RALPH RISIBLE, GJSMT. 
 
 
 >v their titles, now fail or succeed ; 
 . :'v tuk should have a fitting head. 
 
 JANUARY 1833.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES 
 
 A COLLECTION OF 
 HUXKEROUS POEMS 
 
 BT RALPH RISIBLE, Gr. 
 
 Drmrntrfc to 
 JAMES HOGG, 
 
 The Etterick Shepherd. 
 
 JANUARY 1833.
 
 ;o avies
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 THE SEASONS. 
 
 O( thee IMl sieg, thou lovely Spring, 
 Before the Cuckoo winds his horn, 
 
 Ere roses bloom, or lovers roam 
 
 To woo beneath the flowering thorn. 
 
 Fair as the snow its name-drops blow, 
 And crocus gild the neat parterre, 
 
 And gardeners toil and turn the soil 
 The flowery tribes from weeds to clear ; 
 
 Now rooks prepare their nests with cnrr, 
 And birchen twigs they bear along ; 
 
 Narcissus fair perfume the air, 
 
 And sky-larks sing their matin ong ; 
 B
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 In echoes fall the partridge call 
 
 Upon the ear in Cora vale ; 
 While in the wood the wild-flowers bud, 
 
 And spread their fragrance with the gale. 
 
 The daisies wild are opening mild, 
 
 And shamrocks peeping through the sod< 
 
 While whistling hinds the horses wind, 
 And harrows break the clay-bound clod. 
 
 Now moorland blaze brings smoke and haze 
 And mottled grouse are forced to fly 
 
 Though now they 'journ, they'll soon retunt 
 To glad the sportsman's eager eye. 
 
 The streamlets glance where fishes dance 
 
 To catch the insects as they fly, 
 While sportsmen stand with rod in hand 
 
 And trace the trout with watchful eye. 
 
 The buds now swell and clothe the dell, 
 We hear the cuckoo in the grove, 
 
 While pigeons cno their mates to woo, 
 And by the streams the anglers rove.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The jack-curlew now pipes to woo 
 
 And shuns on high the haunts of mn ; 
 
 The falcon* roam where chasms gloom 
 Among the wilds of Cartlaue glen ; 
 
 The wren pipes clear on budding briar ; 
 
 The flowers advance to deck the Spring ; 
 The lap-wings fly when dogs they spy, 
 
 And round the shepherds form a ring ; 
 
 The clear-toned thrush sings in the bush, 
 And mellow blackbirds tune their lays, 
 
 The bullfinch bass, sweet linnets grace, 
 And twitterings warble on the sprays ; 
 
 The magpies strut in dandy cut, 
 
 And yellow-hammers shake their keys, 
 
 And green-birds grind, and chaffinch wind 
 Chirp- wee-da-wee-da 'mong the trees ; 
 
 The robins shrill have left the mill 
 
 And joined the songsters in the brake ; 
 Hie bitterns boom their sounding drum 
 'Mong ducks that nestle by the lake.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 Now jack-daws caw, while hawks give law, 
 And scare the herons from the stream, 
 
 And stop the chime and sylvan hymn, 
 
 And make the frightened songsters scream. 
 
 ~&Z 
 The squirels spring boughs, and hing 
 
 To pick the cones of last year's seed ; 
 The conies hop, and hares now crop 
 The rising clover from the mead. 
 
 Among the bowers, in vacant hours, 
 The school-boys range the nests to find, 
 
 And climb the trees with trembling knee* 
 In search of birds of every kind. 
 
 With smile and tear, the Spring doth wear 
 Like nursling from its mother's lap, 
 
 Till genial showers its budding bowers 
 In Summer's flowering roses wrap. 
 
 Time wings on fast now Spring is past 
 The mower's scythe rings in the mead ; 
 
 The roses bloom with rich perfume, 
 And children pipe on elder reed ;
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 Hees humming sing;, and homeward bring 
 The balmy streets to fill their comb*, 
 
 And now provide and frugally guide, 
 
 While sluggards squander in their hornet : 
 
 The sultry sun, the cattle shun, 
 And shelter 'neath the leafy trees; 
 
 The brooks that run from mountains dua 
 Are dried up by the solar breeze ; 
 
 The feathered race now lead and chace 
 Their young with care in every glade ; 
 
 And shepherds tent their fleecy breed 
 On mountains in the northern shade. 
 
 The wild-ducks quake, and landrails craik ; 
 
 The swallows skim the glassy flood ; 
 Upon the tide, the sheildrakes glide, 
 
 And baldcoots tent their sooty brood ; 
 
 In Cora vale the h owlets wail 
 
 Among the trees and rugged rocks ; 
 
 The weasels teem ; the polecats scream ; 
 And foxes watch the crowing cocks.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 Now thunders boom, and through the gloom 
 We see the forked ligh'ning dash ; 
 
 The Lammas flood, in raging mood, 
 
 Swells high the cataracts' foam and dask. 
 
 The gaysome lambs have left their dams, 
 And drovers wend the fleecy band, 
 
 Across the Tweed they now must feed 
 On pastures in a distant land. 
 
 Now yellow corn our fields adorn, 
 The wheat is waving with the gale, 
 
 And groupping bands of reapers stand 
 To hear the fanner's wary tale. 
 
 And now they toil to clear the soil, 
 And with rich stooks bestud the plain; 
 
 While fields resound with mirthful sound 
 As each band kemps the lead to gain. 
 
 The sky oft lours with frequent showers, 
 Yet harvest-home is safe at last ; 
 
 But Summer flowers, that deck'd the bowers, 
 Are withered by the sweeping blast.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 11 
 
 The sun looks wan, the frosty fan 
 
 With nipping cold has thin'd the leaves, 
 
 The rippen'd corn our yards adorn, 
 
 And into stacks they form the sheaves. 
 
 Now work complete, the reapers meet 
 
 Within the barn to dance and sing ; 
 Or quaff brown ale, with merry tale, 
 
 While round they form a festive ring. 
 
 Now gardeners fell with shears or bill 
 
 The hedge-rows down to make them neat, 
 
 They hoe up weeds, and sow such seeds 
 As suit the ground' for sowing late. 
 
 The bustard race our sportsmen chare 
 With hound and coursers' rapid flight, 
 
 They well can shun the deadly gun, 
 
 But on our plains they range at night. 
 
 The grey-hounds thace, and sportsmen trace ' 
 
 The timid hares, as rife they run, 
 And wary grouse skim moor and moss 
 
 And oft are scared by poacher's gun. 
 C
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 And pheasants now but seldom crow 
 'Mong woods they shelter from the cold ; 
 
 In sedgy fens the snipes find dens, 
 
 Till cockers drive them from their hold. 
 
 When storms rage high, the sea-gulls fly 
 For inland, near our lakes to feed, 
 
 Or while the ploughs up reptiles throw, 
 As farmers sow the whcaten seed. 
 
 In winged flight comes Hallow night, 
 When youngsters meet in anxious bands 
 
 To draw the stack, or nuts to crack, 
 
 Or pull the stocks with trembling hands, 
 
 Like hoary Sire, whose manly fire 
 Has by the touch of Time been nipt, 
 
 So Autumn's glow, by Winter's snow, 
 Is now of all its beauties stript ; 
 
 Its flowers are gone, that gaudy >Iionp, 
 November's rude blasts sweep each bower : 
 
 The blackbird's lute and thrushel'a mute, 
 And heavy wings the passing hour.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. IS 
 
 Beside the rills, now clack the mills 
 
 And cheery make the rugged dells, 
 The hoary rocks their soundings mock 
 
 And echo thro' their time-worn cells. 
 
 Though tempests scowl, the passing fowl 
 
 For Norway ride across the foam ; 
 Woodcocks in bands have reach'd our strands, 
 
 And fieldfares with us find a home. 
 
 The sky-larks flock black ravens croak 
 The fieldfares scream and mark the gale* 
 
 The partridge fly the old ducks cry- 
 All seem with nature to bewail. 
 
 The robin comes and picks the crumbs 
 
 The tit and chaffinch nip the grain 
 
 The sparrows hail the thrasher's flail 
 
 Rooks pull the stacks their food to gain. 
 
 From pastures bare, the timid hare 
 
 Now wanders near the peasant's cot, 
 And nips the greens, and wary gleans, 
 
 Till some keen eye marks out the spot
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The snowy caps high mountains wrap, 
 The freezing drift pens in the sheep, 
 
 With looks aghast herds face the blast 
 
 And tent their flocks while townsmen sleep. 
 
 High on the storm the wild-geese form 
 The crescent, phalanx, or the square 
 
 We. hear their cry while passing by, 
 And view them marshalling in the air. 
 
 On Glotta's strand each parish band 
 Now meets to join our ancient game, 
 
 The frozen deep they anxious sweep 
 To win the day, and raise their fame. 
 
 Though days are short, they have much sport, 
 At night these rinking bands retire, 
 
 Their cups to drain, and match again, 
 Beside some merry ale-house fire. 
 
 To cheer the gloom, trees yet will bloom, 
 And birds will carol 'mong the boughs 
 
 But when man falls no Spring recalls 
 The dreary Winter is the close.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. Io 
 
 THE GABERLUNZIE. 
 
 A Gaberlunzie, thin an' pale, 
 
 Cam' shiv'rin' to my hallan door ; 
 
 Keen blew the wind o'er hill an' dale, 
 An' flaky snaw in fury bore. 
 
 Full eighty years had hoar'd his head, 
 The colours o' some clan he wore ; 
 
 The weary piper sought his bread 
 
 By wand'rin' roun' frae door to door. 
 
 Five times ten years had owre him past 
 Since first he drew the Heilan' brand- 
 
 Whan Royal Charlie s die was cast, 
 That drave him to a foreign land. 
 
 On bellows-pipes ths minstrel play'd, 
 In unison wi them he sung 
 
 The dirge o' chieftains lowly laid 
 Cam* quiv'rin' frae his aged tongue.
 
 16 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 This waiid'rin' piper, poor at*' lorn, 
 
 "Mang driftin' snaw had cross'd the field ; 
 
 He begg'd for quarters till the morn 
 In barn or shed to find a bield. 
 
 My daughter's tears wi' sorrow fell, 
 She cried "O faither, let him come, 
 
 He maunna perish in the dell 
 The hoary piper has ne home; 
 
 Do gi'e him shelter frae the blast, 
 Nor let him wander down the shawr 
 
 This night he might ha'e breath'd his last 
 His tomb perhaps a wreath o" snaw." 
 
 She bm;iglit him in, an' stir'd the flame ; 
 
 An' plae'd him near the bleezin' fire; 
 She never ask'd the wand'rer's name, 
 
 Nor dreamt he was her faither's Sire. 
 
 He thank'd my daughter for her care, 
 
 An' said, while tears flow'd down his face, 
 
 "I had a wife aince young an' fair, 
 Hr features in your's 1 can trace."
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGE*. 17 
 
 Then frae his bosom forth he drew 
 
 The portrait o' a lovely dame 
 My mother's face fu' weel I knew, 
 
 "My Sive ! my sire !" I did exduim. 
 
 My daughter grasp'd his feeble knet% 
 
 While on his aged breast I fell. 
 "Do I my faither' s faither see," 
 
 Exclaim'd my sobbin' Isabel, 
 
 "O! lang-lost faither, welcome here, r 
 
 Frae us ye never mair maun roam 
 Your age, your wants shall be our care 
 
 An" here shall ever be your home." 
 
 MATERNAL AFFECTION 
 
 Fair was that inoru when Phaibus ros* 
 
 To gild the Western Main, 
 The boatmen scudded close in thor 
 
 To drng the fishing Siewo;
 
 IS PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The seamews scream'd beneath the crag, 
 And skimm'd the glassy deep, 
 
 When the young mother and her child 
 Had warider'd to the steep. 
 
 The sun had drank the spangl'd dew, 
 And dried the downy wild ; 
 
 The mother gather'd daisy flowers 
 To please her blooming child. 
 
 Reclining on the grassy turf 
 
 To view the gulph below, 
 Her little baby, ere she wist, 
 
 Had scrambled to the brow ; 
 
 Transfixed with horror sat the dame, 
 And view'd her lovely child, 
 
 Who crept along the horrid brow, 
 And on his mother smil'd, 
 
 Her eyes with anguish glisteu'd wild, 
 Her bosom swell'd with fear ; 
 
 The baby look'd serenely mild 
 He saw no danger 4eai%
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The mother bared her milky breast, 
 And raised her snowy arm, 
 
 The lovely infant caught the lure, 
 And scrambl'd to the charm : 
 
 The grateful mother left the crag, 
 
 To hug her rescued child, 
 And kiss the little cherub's lips, 
 
 Who lisp'd "Mamma," and smil'd. 
 
 THE POET. 
 
 To please the Gods, or make the critics rage, 
 TIBBS plann'd and wrote two Dramas for the stage ; 
 With grief he dreams his efforts may be vain, 
 Although he's culled them o'er and o'er again. 
 Though Tibbs ne'er wore the holly or the bays, 
 Yet on the crags that bore them he would gaze ; 
 He oft travers'd the glens and heather hills, 
 And music heard in sounds from clacking mills; 
 On ruin'd walls he oft was seen to pore, 
 And backwards scan the feats of men of yore. 
 D
 
 SO PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 Each cataract's foam he'd stand and see expire ; 
 
 And boiling gulphs set oft his muse on fire ; 
 
 The star of eve, that thro' his window shone, 
 
 He'd gaze at hours, and watch when all alone; 
 
 The yellow moon, that dimly show'd her face 
 
 Among the haze, old Tibbs would often chace. 
 
 His bare surtout was pawn'd to pay his rent, 
 
 And gold-head cane on these his Uncle lent ; 
 
 Before his verses are in numbers penn'd, 
 
 To quench his thirst, poor soul ! they are condema'4, 
 
 He still keeps planning on from day to day 
 
 To raise the wind and drive the bums away. 
 
 His chinky door a light came faintly through; 
 
 I peep'd within, his sallow face I knew; 
 
 With beard unshorn he sat, and matted hair, 
 
 And garments soiled old age had made them bare. 
 
 His only shirt, that he had newly wrung, 
 
 Close by his hat upon a rafter hung; 
 
 His favourite song was pricked upon the wall, 
 
 That had been sung in raptures at Vauxhall ; 
 
 A chair and table graced his lowly room, 
 
 A farthing rush -light cast its solemn gloom 
 
 Upon the notes that by his elbow lay-- 
 
 'Mong flo-.v'ry meads his muse was borne away.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. t3 
 
 His hollow eyes were cast upon the fire, 
 
 While on the hearth the embers did expire. 
 
 I found him wandering up Parnassus hill, 
 
 And heaps of gold came sparkling from his quill. 
 
 He raised his hand and pressed his oval head, 
 
 And in the inky fluid sent his reed ; 
 
 Again he paused with eyes turned up to heaven 
 
 His wandering muse was by the whirlwind drivtn 
 
 To where Mount Etna boils her liquid store 
 
 In streams of fire to wrap the viny shore 
 
 He viewed the vortex, scann'd old Pluto's cell ; 
 
 Down went his hand, he formed his numbers well. 
 
 He heard the thunder bellow through the gloom, 
 
 Out went the rush, and darkness fill'd the room ; 
 
 He roared "Asmodeus, Vulcan, bring a light," 
 
 Then into bed he huddled for the night ! 
 
 FRIAR JOHN ATAI.E. 
 
 When Edward Longshanks rul'd old Caledon, 
 In Lanark town there liv'd one Friar John, 
 Who lik'd to play much better than soul-massing, 
 And with the fair dames oft was found tresspass'mg.
 
 4 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 John had been out with Graeme the cavalier 
 la Scotland's cause, a mounted cuirassier, 
 And strong compunction for his wicked life 
 Had turn'd him saint ; despising broils and strife 
 He went now barefoot, lasb'd himself each day 
 With penance-cord, and told his rosary, 
 And to the Virgin vow'd and pray'd with fervour 
 That chastely and devoutly he would serve he/; 
 Yet still the devil tempted him to sin, 
 Although, poor soul, he strongly strove within. 
 Frail was his flesh, his vows were thrown awajs, 
 And to his former ways John went astray. 
 
 One evening John went out to take the air, 
 And met a buxom lady young and fair, 
 Whose husband was a soldier, tall in stature, 
 And jealous as a tiger in his nature : 
 John fix'd to meet her on the morrow eve, 
 Her husband then the picquet must relieve. 
 He kept his tryst, dress'd as a holy friar, 
 One golden merk the dame got for her hire. 
 Oft when we think we're safe, we are in danger, 
 Although to fear our father was a stranger, 
 A noise without now loud assail'd the door, 
 That made the damsel spring across the floor.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 25 
 
 John had gut stript no more I well can tell 
 
 Too long degressions would my numbers s \vi-H 
 
 She dous'd the lights, the soldier roared like thunder, 
 
 John, gath'ritig up his clothes, the bed got uttder; 
 
 The door flew open, in the soldier came, 
 
 And roar'd for light John trembl'd at the then*. 
 
 No light was got, for, (mark the cunning fox) 
 
 She had pour'd water in the tinder-box. 
 
 The friar pray'd, and bless'd all woman-kind, 
 
 For this invention eas'd his troubl'd mind. 
 
 But new distresses flock'd around the friar, 
 
 The want of light had rais'd the soldier's ire, 
 
 And for good brandy now the tyrant swore. 
 
 For 'neath the bed he knew he had a store. 
 
 In fear she sprang and brought it from the spot, 
 
 For much she fcar'd he'd sieze the friar's throat; 
 
 While John shook like a quaker, holy man, 
 
 And down his face the perspiration ran. 
 
 The soldier drank, then into bed he huddl'd, 
 
 The fuming brandy had the tyrant fuddl'd ; 
 
 No music e'er the friar heard before 
 
 Was half so sweet as when he heard him snore 
 
 At first he thought to sie/e the fellow's brand, 
 
 And fight his way out with him single hand,
 
 tfi PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 But caution for revenge he thought the best, 
 With energy he put it to the test 
 With struggling he got out, and naked stood, 
 Drank what was left, arid found it warm his blood. 
 Then in the soldier's clothes to dress began, 
 And soon a guardsman was our holy man; 
 To arm his rival with, instead of sword, 
 He left his cloak, his cowl, and penance cord, 
 And hurried to the street, with resolution 
 To call again, and give him absolution, 
 Revenge to have for being disappointed, 
 The guardsman's back that night he well anointed. 
 Off to the yard our hevo bent his way, 
 To seal his plot before the dawn of day, 
 He knew that soldiers were aye glad to hear 
 Of faults in any lusty lecherous friar; 
 As chastity they preach'd at every mass, 
 And watoh'd the stews, and would let nothing pass. 
 They heard John's tale, and glad to get some sport 
 They soon turn'd out the friar to escort. 
 They found the door unbolted from within, 
 And loudly bawl'd turn out the man of sin. 
 Then search'd the room, the soldier he had fled ; 
 Our hero knew he was below the bed,
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 27 
 
 And stoop'd to smell, then gropp'd his cowl and clothe* 
 
 And roar'd aloud, he smell'd him with his nose : 
 
 They lower'd the lanterns, saw the guardsman lying 
 
 Benumb'd with cold and terror almost dying; 
 
 They dragg'd him and bis insigns from their hold, 
 
 And that he was a friar the garments told. 
 
 John lash'd him with the cord, and made him roar 
 
 Such penance ne'er a friar did before 
 
 In John's old clothes they saw him soon array'd 
 
 And with rais'd hands the new-made friar pray'd 
 
 "Sweet holy Virgin, tl.is cannot be me, 
 
 "I will be chaste and good, I vow to thee." 
 
 The soldiers now in crowds began to gather, 
 
 And crave the blessings of the holy father ; 
 
 And honest John thought it time to depart, 
 
 Revenge he'd got, and nobly play'd his part; 
 
 But ere he went, he told them to beware, 
 
 And see the ghostly father us'd with care. 
 
 The guardsman groan'd, invoking every saint, 
 
 While John in triumph to his convent went; 
 
 The guardsman's clothes John hove into the Clyde, 
 
 But kept the cash, for that he knew would hide. 
 
 The soldier thought unto his dying day, 
 
 That for his sins the clothes were borne away.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 THE GAS-MAN'S FLIGHT. 
 
 The thunder boom'd, and thro' the dusky gloom 
 The Comet now appear'd in Gasman form, 
 
 It bore a shield, round as a palace dome, 
 That cut the air, and beckou'd to the storm. 
 
 The fire came sparkling from its shaggy tail 
 
 Down went the shield that had been charg'd with gu, 
 
 Its odours spread and noses did regale, 
 
 And some were blacken'd by the falling mass. 
 
 Light shone betwixt this awful figure's thighs; 
 
 Its body old dame Luna did eclipse; 
 A matron stood aloof with streaming eyes, 
 
 And saw the trowsers waving from its hips. 
 
 This awful star began to bellow loud, 
 
 Three times it turn'd between the earth and moon, 
 Then wreath 'd its limbs, and fell among the mud 
 
 Oat went the lights, and darkness fill'd the town.
 
 
 lluw
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 31 
 
 The bard serene look'd through the smoking haze, 
 And saw the monster tumbling from the cloud 
 
 Like Lucifer, who fell in endless blaze, 
 When Michael and his angels sang aloud. 
 
 Some thought the world was surely at an end, 
 And to the caves and dens a number fled ; 
 
 While others stopt and saw the fiend descend, 
 And tranquil went in darkness to their bed. 
 
 Some think in rage he went to snuff the moon 
 And make the world at night to light with gas; 
 
 While others think he meant to heave her down, 
 And drown her in the seas beyond the Basi. 
 
 THE LAIRD O' GOWKHA' 
 
 A LOVE ADTENTUHE. 
 
 The Laird gaed a-courtin' young Tibbie 
 Wha liv'd on the banks o' the Clyde ; 
 
 Weel buskit an' braw was auld Gibbie 
 His pouches wi' siller hang side : 
 E
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 His coat yellow buttons had on it, 
 
 His breeks were o' gude hodden claith, 
 
 He had on a gawsie blue bonnet, 
 
 His tartan plaid kept him frae scaith. 
 
 In crossin' the moss the laird wan'er'd, 
 And tint baith his shoon i' the mire, 
 
 An' roun' the house-en' as he daunner'd 
 He fell i' the muck at the byre. 
 
 He knockt at the door in a hurry; 
 
 Young Jock in the spence was wi' Tib; 
 The laird put them baith in a flurry, 
 
 And Jook ran to hide in the crib, 
 
 "See Tibbie, lass, here is nae jockin ; 
 
 My buckles an' shoon 's in the mire 
 
 Im tremblin' wi' cauld really shockin' 
 
 Make haste, lassie, heat up the fire, 
 
 Gang out to the roost, for a chuckie, 
 An' bring a braw fat ane, wi' speed, 
 
 Vow, but I've been awfu' unlucky 
 This wark really will be my dead."
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 33 
 
 Jock sat on the kebbers, fu' sturdy, 
 
 An' leugh at the auld dotard sire, 
 While Tibbie she pookit the birdie, 
 
 An' set it to stew on the fire. 
 
 "Set aff now an' bring me some brandy, 
 
 An' yill too, the best that is brew'd, 
 I'll tent the wee chuckie quite handy, 
 
 An' show ye how weel I can stew't." 
 
 Young Tibbie set aff thro' the yardie; 
 
 An' Jock he got down frae the joist, 
 An' stopt the lumhead on the lairdie, 
 
 Wha gaped like a herriu' at reist. 
 
 Auld Gibbie got out like to worry, 
 
 An' left the fat hen on the fire : 
 While Jock jumpit down in a hurry 
 
 An' cleek'd aff the pat to the byre. 
 
 Soon Tibbie cam' back wi" the brandy, 
 
 An' straught thro' the reek she gaed ben 
 
 "Auld Hornie 's been here, the curs'd randy, 
 An' ilown up the him wi' our hen."
 
 34 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 Then 'Jock he crap in on his hunker, 
 As Tib took the laird a\ra' ben, 
 
 An' whipt ;iif the drink frae the bunker 
 An' set it beside the fat hen. 
 
 The lairdie rax'd owre Tibbie's shouther 
 An' lifted a pipe frae the hab; 
 
 Young Jock had it cramm'd fu' o' poutbtr, 
 An' smack it flew out Gibbie's gab. 
 
 Then Jock crap up the house riggin' 
 An' took aff the fail frae the him, 
 
 Then got an auld weight in the biggin, 
 An' rumbl'd upon't like a drum: 
 
 Wi' fear an' wi' dread Gibbie tumbl'd, 
 The gowd in his pouch wadna bide; 
 
 Young Tibbie she fiket an' fumbl'd 
 Sha roar'd an' she grat by his side. 
 
 Enraged the laird cross'd the meadow, 
 A duck ne'er his side gi'ed a 'quack', 
 
 He thought it was witch Bell, the widow, 
 An' o'er went the laird on his back.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 Now, up got the laird in a flurry 
 
 An' cockit his cudgel in ire 
 Up sprang a young hare in a hurry, 
 
 An' down again gaed the auld sire. 
 
 He groan'd an' he bellow'd most awfu' 
 
 Some herds thought their bills had broke loos< 
 
 When up cam' young Jock wi' a gawfa. 
 An' belp'd the laird hame to his house. 
 
 The laird 'many the blankets soon tumbl'd, 
 The housekeeper brought Jock a dram; 
 
 She flate on the laird, an' she mumbl'd 
 "Your promises, Gibbie, "s a' sham," 
 
 Now matters are decently settl'd, 
 An' Tibbie an' Jock ha'e got wed; 
 
 The housekeeper got what she ettl'd 
 The laird made a wife o' his maid*
 
 36 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 ELDER TAM. 
 
 Tarn Dykes went a-courtin' sweet Myi, 
 
 A maiden o' saxty an' twa ; 
 Weel mounted, he rode a gude naigie, 
 
 An' snoov'd o'er the grun' thro' the shaw. 
 
 His legs wi" strae rapes were weel twisted, 
 His shoon were wi' tackets weel shod, 
 
 In gude hodden claith was he buskit, 
 He croon'd an' he sang on the road. 
 
 The damsel she lang'd to get married- 
 A weel-plenish'd biggin she had, 
 
 On Tammie lang time she had tarried 
 She kent the sweet tread o' his yad. 
 
 That day Tammie cam' at the gloamin', 
 
 The lift lookit gurly an' raw, 
 The mnon was blood-red a bad omen, 
 
 An' down cam' the drift an ' the snaw.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The kimiiier brought down a black puddin' 
 
 An' put it to fry in the pan, 
 An' whang'd down the cheese without biddin' 
 
 For cakes to the awm'ry she ran ; 
 
 She brought out a muckle black bottle, 
 A gawsie punch-bowl, an' a spoon, 
 
 The whisky sune chear'd Tammic's noddle. 
 An' gart him baith kittle an' croon. 
 
 An' aye he ca'd roun' the strong toddy ; 
 
 His Mysie she gbt in fine trim ; 
 He ca'd her his sweet bonny body 
 
 Tin; kimmer she oggl'd at him. 
 
 The win' roar'd o'er the auld biggin, 
 
 The fire bleiz'd an' made the room warm ; 
 
 Sae lang as the house held the riggin 
 The lovers they dreaded nae harm. 
 
 The drift on the door cam' wi fury, 
 Auld Tammie he couldna get hame; 
 
 The snaw the poor body might bury 
 Ye douse folks, ye maunna him blame.
 
 38 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The farmer himsel' was an elder, 
 He stood inoiiy a day at the plate, 
 
 He meant by the fireside to spelder, 
 It now was sae stormy an' late. 
 
 There was but ae bed in the biggin, 
 A rnuckle kist stood by its side, 
 
 She thought this wad fit Tarn to lig in, 
 It really look'd lengthy an' wide. 
 
 She put in twa pair o' new blankets, 
 A feather cod under his pow, 
 
 The carle lay as warm as fried pancakes, 
 Down May sent the lid wi* a jow 
 
 And turn'd roun' the key on auld Tammie, 
 Poor body he found it right warm; 
 
 She bade him lie still like a lauimie 
 Till morning he wadna tak' harm. 
 
 The Elder he roar'd an' he rappit 
 
 For Mysie to open the lid. 
 "Be quiet Tarn, I'm sure ye're weel happit, 
 
 My dawty, come do as I bid."
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 39 
 
 "Na, na, Tana, I'll no tak' the lid aff, 
 
 I am a lone lass by inysel', 
 When moriiiu' has come ye can ride aif 
 
 Just owre to your limmer, Jean Bell." 
 
 The ciirliue she leugh an' she mokit ; 
 
 Tarn breath'd thro' the key-hole an' spoke 
 "My love, let me out I'm maist chokit 
 
 I'll wed ye the morn i' your smock." 
 
 "Na, Tammie, I canna believe ye, 
 Ye've promis'd that often before." 
 
 Mysie ! sweet lassie, relieve me, 
 
 Or I'll worry," auld Tammie did roar. 
 
 "I ha'e but ae bed here's a parley 
 I'm frighten'd, Tarn, ye'll do me ill 
 
 1 ha'e a toom sack, that held barley, 
 
 Ye maun then gang in't wi' gude will. 
 
 I'll tie't wi' a cord roun' your cravat, 
 
 Your arms ye can straught by your side, 
 
 An' ye maun keep stane still for a' that, 
 An' swear that ye'll mak' me your bride." 
 F
 
 "O Mysie, my case is most awfu' 
 
 O do let me out or I'll bock ; 
 I'm sure this is horrid unlawfu', 
 
 To gar a man pech thro' a lock." 
 
 The carl he bockit and rifted, 
 
 Her blankets she thought would be soil'd ; 
 She turn'd the key up the lid lifted 
 
 She couldna thole ony thing spoil'd. 
 
 The heat frae the Elder cam' steamin', 
 He sprang out the kist wi' a bang 
 
 Ye b h did ye think I was dreamin' 
 Wi' your pock do you mean me to hang.' 
 
 Our Elder he bunn'd and he stampit, 
 An' brak' a' the pigs on her shelf; 
 
 At Mysie he rag'd an' lie ranapit, 
 An' ca'd her a witch and an' elf. 
 
 Tarn thrappl'd the dame like a firry, 
 
 An' tumbl'd her into the kist, 
 An' down sent the lid in a hurry, 
 
 And roun' sent the key ere she vrisU
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 43 
 
 Auld Mysie wi' terror she fainted, 
 
 An' Tammie sat down on the lid, 
 His heart saft as butter now melted 
 
 For what in his anger be did. 
 
 Tarn roar'd thro' the key-hole to Mysie; 
 
 But never a word the dame spoke, 
 Preserve me, my heads turriin' dizzy 
 
 They'll hang me if I should her choke, 
 
 He lifted the lid aff the carline, 
 
 And saw her lie white as a clout, 
 "O Mysie, sweet Mysie, my darlin';" 
 
 He kiss'd her and lifted her out. 
 
 Tarn sprink'd her temples wi' water, 
 
 An' dipped her ban's in a can ; 
 The maiden began soon to clatter, 
 
 An' Tarn for the whisky now ran. 
 
 The Elder upon his knee took her, 
 
 An' dighted the sweet frae her brow 
 
 "We'll quarrel nae mair for the future, 
 My v.vect bonny Mysie, I vow.
 
 44 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The Elder till mom in' he tarried, 
 
 An' pri'd her sweet mou' owre a drum ; 
 
 An' soon the twa lovers got married 
 What think ye o" Mysie an' Tarn ! 
 
 CARTLANE CRAGS. 
 
 HERE toppling crags bend o'er in frowning gloom, 
 
 On the dark stream, that struggles far below 
 
 Though darting sun-beams reach not to illume, 
 
 Yet plants, in Nature's wild profusion, grow. 
 
 The woodland songsters charm the rural spot, 
 
 And animate the bowers on every side; 
 
 The woodbine and green ivies twine each grot, 
 
 Where wild birds nestle, and in safety hide. 
 
 Oft have Scotch heroes trac'd these sylvan bowers, 
 
 And in those caverns hoar been forc'd to sleep 
 
 With locks oft moisten'd by night's dewy showers, 
 
 Or oozings from the rude projecting steep. 
 
 Oft has the bugle echoed in the dell 
 
 To call the lurking spearmen to th e war,
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 4.5 
 
 Or some terrific post with rueful knell 
 Through oxen-horn, to rush them to the scar. 
 
 Here Poesy haunts ; and 'mong these rugged rocks 
 With giant wildness waves the rustic hand 
 When from the cliffs we see the tangPd locks 
 Such awful grandeur must the soul command. 
 The wimpling cataracts beautify the scene, 
 And seem attracting all with luring din 
 Producing thoughts within the musing brain, 
 That Poets' fancies captivating win. 
 The time-worn cave, and Wallace' deeds of yore, 
 Will swell the Muse's breast with martial flame, 
 And make't to heave a sigh for him no more 
 Him who disdain'd to stain the Scottish name. 
 
 Scenes such as these old Caledon can boast, 
 Which fan the Patriot and the Poet's fire ; 
 Though ages waste, yet towers each craggy host, 
 A nd wakes bold Scotia's harp, and strikes her native lyre. 
 
 RETIREMENT. 
 
 In a neat little cot, in some sweet rural spot, 
 Snugly sheltered by woodland or dell, 
 
 From the town's jarring strife, in the evening of life, 
 On ttic banks of some stream let me dwellj
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 With a garden for flowers, and some rose- 1 willed bowers, 
 Where the birds sing and nestle in spring 
 
 This is all my desire when inclined to retire 
 Let tne dwell where the woodsongsters sing. 
 
 In the sty a fat hog, for my sport a good dog ; 
 
 Gosslings, ducklings, and fowls in my yard ; 
 With a rich plot of ground, with close hedges well bound 
 
 For my use, a good cow on the swiird. 
 Let the stream be well stored with nice fish for my board, 
 
 When I range out to angle in spring : 
 Then I'll see the buds swell, and the flowers clothe the dell, 
 
 Let me live where the woodsongsters sing. 
 
 When December winds blow o'er the hills wrapt with snow 
 
 With my children I'd sit round the fire, 
 And would glean from the page of the poet and sage, 
 
 And a song from the old Scottish lyre ; 
 Till the crocus' appear, and the rose on the briar, 
 
 Every night some amusement would bring ; 
 With my dame by my side, that in youth was my bride, 
 
 Let me dwell whre the woodsongsters sing. 
 
 When old age makes me bow and uay face furrow'd grow, 
 
 And my locks hang like hoar on the pine, 
 Though my eyes may be dim and fourscore shake aeh limb, 
 
 Free from want, I would never repine : 
 With a heart free from guile, to meet death with a smile, 
 
 No remorse my last moments to wring 
 Let me quit life's gay scene with a look quite srene~~ 
 
 Let me soar where the sweet songsters sing.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 47 
 
 THE SPINNIN'-WHEEL. 
 
 Langsyne when I was married, 
 
 1 had a little farm, 
 My dame she spun us blankets, 
 
 An' claes to keep us warm, 
 She twin'd me bonny hollan' sarks, 
 
 An* fine the thread did draw 
 But luck is fled my biggin' now 
 
 The birrin' wheel 's ami*. 
 
 We aye got cash to pay the laird 
 
 An' ither things when due; 
 Wi' meal an' milk we were weel ser'd ; 
 
 Our acres kept a cow. 
 In winter-time, when nights wen; lang, 
 
 My dame the thread did draw 
 But luck is fled my biggin' now 
 
 The bummin' wheel 'a awa'. 
 
 The neibour herds an' cottars rotiu* 
 
 In jovial bands oft came; 
 A bleezin' fire aye warm'd my hearth, 
 
 To chear my frugal hame ; 
 My mither carded packs o' woo' 
 
 For muckle wheel or sma' 
 But luck is left my biggin' now 
 
 The birriu' wheel 's awa'.
 
 PROGRESSIVE CHANGES. 
 
 The spinni ii '-wheel is cozy like, 
 
 I like to hear its bum, 
 A bleezin' fire to warm the house, 
 
 A ham to grace the lum 
 That was the way we fared langsynt 
 
 Our taxes then were sma' 
 But luck is left my biggin' now 
 
 The bumuiin' wheel 's awa'. 
 
 We now may travel forty miles 
 
 Afore we see a wheel, 
 But atild wives croonin' in the neuk 
 
 "O' dearth o' maut an' meal." 
 Or young anes yaummerin' owre a spunk 
 
 That lights their gloomy ha' 
 For luck has left their Father's land 
 
 The birrin' wheel 's awa'.
 
 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below. 
 
 REMINGTON RAND INC. 2O 
 
 213 (533) 
 
 ^.-^
 
 M. 
 
 PS 
 
 2711- 
 Rli5p