PR 
 
 R72 
 H4 
 
 KAMD. ROBERTSON
 
 HEART ECHOES. 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 WILLIAM DAVIDSON ROBERTSON, 
 
 BANKFOOT, AUCHTERGAVEN. 
 
 (Etrttetr b% 
 
 HIS SISTER ISABELLA, 
 
 AND 
 
 JOHN PAUL, DUNDEE. 
 
 DUNDEE : 
 JAMES P. MATHEW & CO., COWGATE. 
 
 1896
 
 Contents. 
 
 PAQK 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION, 9 
 
 THE EARNEST STUDENT. 
 
 "Nee TAMEN CONSUMEBATUR," 19 
 
 THE LORD'S DAY, 22 
 
 A WORSHIPFUL SPIRIT 23 
 
 COMMUNION, , 25 
 
 AFTER COMMUNION, 26 
 
 COME, HOLY SPIRIT, ........ 28 
 
 JESUS MY LORD, 29 
 
 GRASPED BY CHRIST JESUS, 30 
 
 LABORS ET HONORE, 31 
 
 GATHER, HAPPY CHILDREN, 33 
 
 LITTLE PILGRIMS, 34 
 
 INFANT PRAISES, 35 
 
 CHILDREN'S DAY, 36 
 
 SPARED TO SEE ANOTHER YEAR, .... 38 
 
 To THE NEW YEAR 39 
 
 O COME, YE PEOPLE, 40 
 
 THERE is A LAND, 41
 
 vi Contents. 
 
 THE SON OF CONSOLATION. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE TOOM PLACE FILLED, 43 
 
 A TOUCH, -... 45 
 
 TALITHA CUMI, 47 
 
 A HILLSIDE SERMON, 48 
 
 " THE PKEACHIN'S," 52 
 
 WEE JANET, 53 
 
 IN MEMORIAM THOMAS YOUNG, .... 54 
 
 M REV. MATTHEW HOWIESON, . . 55 
 
 H MBS M'KENZIE, 56 
 
 To MRS GRAHAM, EDINBURGH, 57 
 
 THE FRIEND OF ALL. 
 
 DEATH IN THE PATH, 59 
 
 CHRISTMAS, 60 
 
 THE MEETING OF THE YEARS, 61 
 
 ONE YEAR GOES, ANOTHER COMES, .... 62 
 
 NEW YEAR SONG To THE REV. GEORGE WILLIAMS, . 63 
 
 THE HAUNTED MAN BY THE REV. GEORGE WILLIAMS, 65 
 
 REPLY TO THE HAUNTED MAN, .... 67 
 
 O DINNA BAN, 69
 
 Contents. vii 
 
 PAGB 
 
 THE DOCTOR, 70 
 
 HEADLESS RHYMES, 71 
 
 MAY DAY WITH THE CHILDREN, 71 
 
 A MAY SONG, 72 
 
 THE BRAES o' COLTRANNIE, 73 
 
 CUSHNIE GLEN, 74 
 
 L'ENVOI, 75 
 
 THE MAID OF NORRIESTON, 76 
 
 THE MAIDEN WHA SHORE IN THE BANDWIN wi' ME, . 77 
 
 EXCELSIOR, 80
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To cherish the memory of a sincere and honourable 
 life is a source of comfort and strength, and to per- 
 petuate all that was good, true, and beautiful in the 
 character is to make the world richer and happier. 
 This memorial volume of the heart-echoes of one who 
 was a true poet and a generous friend will revive the 
 benign influence of his personality in those who were 
 acquainted with him, and may serve to cheer them 
 when despondent, and inspire them to seek after the 
 eternal realities when the concerns of this life are 
 pressing hard upon them. The poems are printed as 
 revised by the author shortly before his death, and in 
 many cases the readings are different from what 
 appeared in the newspapers. The corrections were 
 calmly and deliberately made, and on that account are 
 given here as the finished expression of a cultured mind. 
 The parents of William Davidson Robertson were 
 natives of the Highlands of Perthshire. His mother, 
 Isabella M'Intosh, was born and spent her girlhood in 
 Strathbraan, and his father, Thomas Robertson, belonged 
 to Old Rattray, where his father was a schoolmaster. 
 Both were sprung from that industrious class the God- 
 fearing Scottish peasantry. Shortly after their marriage 
 they migrated to Dundee, and Mr Robertson found 
 employment as a labourer in a mill, but his intelligence 
 and ability marked him out for promotion, and he soon
 
 10 Heart Echoes. 
 
 rose to the position of overseer, which he held until his 
 death in 1854. William was born in Dundee on the 
 25th of January 1833, and was the eighth child of a 
 family of nine. The home life of the family was 
 characterized by simple piety, wholesome discipline, and 
 undemonstrative affection ; just the atmosphere that 
 pervaded the homes and was breathed by the men who 
 made the Scottish character world-renowned for manli- 
 ness and wisdom. 
 
 The following notes from the Poets' Album (Dundee 
 Weekly News, 6th October 1888) give some interesting 
 reminiscences of William's school-days, which he supplied 
 to the editor, Mr Robert Ford: "Among his -earlier 
 recollections is the occasion of his being introduced into 
 the Infant School at Blackscroft, which was conducted 
 by Alexander Hutcheson and his wife, a pair of very 
 worthy persons, who did good work in their generation. 
 . . . Mr Hutcheson had learned to play the clarionet, 
 and his pupils were marshalled to and from the play- 
 ground to such stirring strains as, ' March to the 
 Battlefield,' 'See the Conquering Hero Comes,' and 'The 
 British Grenadiers,' &c., his good lady the while beating 
 time with a tambourine. Happy pupil who got the 
 triangle to beat ! In course of time William was trans- 
 ferred to Princes Street School, then in charge of Alexander 
 Macfarlane, and made fair progress in the mastery of 
 the three R's. Here he had as a fellow-pupil a tall, 
 big boned, square shouldered, live New Zealander, 
 Tekawara Smiler by name, whom some local Christian 
 and humane gentleman had picked up as a castaway 
 about the docks, and sent to school to learn English. 
 Tekawara was tattooed breast and face, even to the 
 roots of his jet-black hair. ' I was,' writes Mr Robert- 
 son, 'his frequent tutor in reading, being set apart
 
 Biographical Introduction. 11 
 
 thereto by the schoolmaster, and was often tempted to 
 smile at his queer pronunciation : 
 
 ' Tey gru in booty shide by shide, 
 Tey filched wan horn wich glee ! ' 
 
 This was how he delivered Mrs Hemans' beautiful 
 and familiar lines. I dared not smile. Tekawara was 
 a savage, and very sensitive to ridicule, and prone to 
 resent it. School-days over, I went to work in a 
 spinning mill, in a department of which my father was 
 overseer. To the same manufacturing establishment 
 Tekawara, having finished his education, followed to 
 learn to be a mechanic. . . . Dressed in moleskins, 
 tattooed face and all, going to and coming from his work 
 just like other decent folks." 
 
 But the leading of Providence is wonderful. It was 
 soon made clear that mill life was not in the plan. 
 Though he was promoted to the position of office boy, 
 yet the noise and the greasy odour from the material 
 and the machinery brought on sickness and continual 
 headaches, and he had to give up his situation. Writing 
 of this period of his life afterwards, he said that he 
 " envied the lot of those country people, with their 
 bright eyes and ruddy fresh countenances, coming into 
 the town on market mornings. They seemed to come 
 from some 'Happy Land, far, far away' a land of 
 sunshine, of hill and dale, stream and wood, and singing 
 birds." 
 
 That difficult parental problem, "What shall we 
 make of our son ? " had to be faced and solved once 
 more. It is wonderful how well denned the path 
 becomes to those who are anxiously looking for guidance 
 and direction. An opening as a grocer's apprentice pre- 
 sented itself, and he applied and was successful. While
 
 12 Heart Echoes. 
 
 at the grocery trade he developed a love for literature, 
 shorthand, and music, and after his apprenticeship was 
 over, when he became a clerk in the Post Office, Dundee, 
 he continued his studies, and was well known in musical 
 and literary circles as an intelligent and thoughtful young 
 man. A gentleman who was intimately acquainted 
 with him, writing after his death, thus summarizes his 
 gifts and capacities : " For a number of years he was 
 a respected official in connection with the Post Office, 
 being, if I mistake not, the first money order clerk in 
 that establishment. His company at that time was 
 much in request by intelligent and embryo literary 
 young men, who were fascinated by his delightful talk 
 of the books he had read. He was also an expert 
 French scholar and shorthand writer, and it was his 
 custom to take down 'the thoughts that breathed and 
 the words that burned ' from the lips of all the wander- 
 ing oratorical ' stars ' who came within his radius. Mr 
 Robertson was an accomplished musician. He was a 
 member of the Dundee Philharmonic Society, then 
 under the direction of the late Mr Spindler, and was 
 one of the oboe players. The violin was, however, the 
 instrument he loved the most, and many a social party 
 has been made merry by the melodious strains of this 
 instrument. His love for music abode with him all his 
 life long, and many of the rising generation in Bankfoot 
 have reason to be grateful for the musical instruction, 
 which it was a labour of love for Mr Robertson to 
 bestow. He had a fine tenor voice, and a good know- 
 ledge of music in both notations, and could make the 
 subject attractive to the veriest amateur." 
 
 He had often sighed for a life in the country, and in 
 1878 his wishes were fulfilled, when he secured the 
 situation of clerk in the factory at Bankfoot, and after-
 
 Biographical Introduction. 13 
 
 wards the position of salesman to the Auchtergaven 
 Provision Society. Here he settled down in view of the 
 grand hills, the beautiful dales, and the silver streams, 
 and we have ample evidence in his poems that his spirit 
 was in sympathy with his surroundings. Still further 
 to show his love for nature, the following extracts from 
 "A Muirland Ramble in May," which he contributed 
 to the Stirling Sentinel, 24th June 1890, are worth 
 quoting: "East winds and blue noses notwithstanding, 
 May is my favourite month. Nature is then in her 
 virginity, her vesture is of the loveliest green, span new, 
 and gemmed with the loveliest blossoms. I have longed 
 and wearily waited for the advent of this pretty maiden 
 with her drapery of green, studded and gemmed with, to 
 me, the prettiest flowers of the year primrose, daisy, 
 and violet, and wreathed with cherry and apple blossom. 
 It is Emerson, I think, who says, ' Why bring me to 
 gaze on and admire your highly cultivated garden with 
 its neatly trimmed walks and carefully tended flowers 1 
 I cannot look anywhere without beholding beauty ! ' 
 In like manner, I at this season find beauty everywhere, 
 and I prefer the bypaths and the fields to the garden ; 
 the gowany lea, the muirland, and the wild wood to the 
 ornamental park. ' Nature when unadorned (by art) is 
 adorned the most.' Happily I have not far to wander 
 in search of wild bits of muirland. Running from the 
 top of the steep slope, at the foot of which stands the 
 village of Bankfoot, is a green loan. At the far end of 
 this loan, which is only a quarter of a mile long, three 
 lairds' lands meet the lands of Coltrannie, Murthly, 
 and Nairne. After I get to the end of the loan, one 
 step lands me into Cairnleath Moss, otherwise the Muir 
 o' Thorn, a wide expanse of verdant heath, a sea of 
 golden gorse, the home at this season of innumerable
 
 14 Heart Echoes. 
 
 wild birds. Seagulls by the thousand are wheeling and 
 screaming around yon natural basin in the centre of the 
 Moss, or flitting overhead to and from their feeding 
 grounds in the valley down yonder, from which I have 
 just come. I have no sooner set foot within the Muir 
 than a brace of peewits come on hasty wing, greeting 
 me as an intruder by wheeling and screaming a few feet 
 above my head, and swiftly whirring before and behind 
 me, coming so close to my ears that I feel the wind 
 caused by the proximity of their wings. When I am 
 clear past their nest they leave me alone. Now for 
 delicious draughts of the purest and most invigorating 
 air, balmy with the perfume of wild flower and plants 
 and herbs. Such a delight to tread the close, thickset 
 springy verdant turf, or to recline on some of the mossy 
 banks soft as down, and the prospect all around so 
 extensive ! This tableland is so elevated above the 
 surrounding country that from it I can see the hills and 
 mountains in five or six different counties the Ochils, 
 the Fife Lomond?, the Sidlaws, the lower range of the 
 Grampians, are as it were at my elbow, the loftier range 
 in Aberdeen and Kincardine Shires, many of their peaks 
 capped with snow. 
 
 " This extensive tract of muirland is renowned for the 
 rare botanical specimens which have been found in it 
 by naturalists. Thus it is a splendid field for the 
 excursions of the natural science clubs whose head- 
 quarters are not too far removed from this tempting 
 region. 
 
 "The sun is now high, and the sky being almost 
 cloudless, his rays are beating upon me just rather strong. 
 This constrains me to seek the shelter of the trees of 
 Coltrannie Wood which overhang the western edge of
 
 Biographical Introduction. 15- 
 
 the Moss, and a part of the wood by which Bonnie 
 Prince Charlie and his Highlandmen marched to the 
 south. It is currently told that his army encamped a 
 night on the Moss. I sit me down in the middle of the 
 road, now turf-covered. These beautiful overhanging 
 light-green fronds of the firs afford a deliciously cool 
 screen from the sun. I hear a peculiar chick, chick, 
 above my head, and looking up I see a squirrel eyeing 
 me from his perch. He is now beating a tattoo with 
 his forepaws on the bark of the tree, which sound like 
 the raps of two little wooden mallets. He wants to get 
 a closer look at me, and he lets himself drop from branch 
 to branch so nimbly and so neatly that he must have a 
 way of his own of calculating distance and impetus to 
 a hair. 
 
 " Such a stillness reigns in the muirland solitude ! 
 a stillness broken only by the warbling of some feathered 
 songster, the plaintive wail of the curlew, or the distant 
 scream of the seagull a stillness that at this hour seems 
 to become more still, when even the lightest breezes 
 seem to fall altogether away, and all nature seems 
 hushed the very sun seems to pause in his course. It 
 is meridian. The skyey tide is at the full ! " 
 
 Amidst such surroundings the poetical spirit of Mr 
 Robertson was nurtured, and the overflowings of his 
 mind in the shape of hymns, poems, and songs are full 
 of natural and pleasing images. These found ready 
 entrance to the columns of such newspapers and 
 magazines as the Peoples Journal, Weekly News, Perth- 
 shire Constitutional and Journal, Perthshire Courier, 
 Stirling Sentinel, Glasgow Weekly Mail, Aberdeen Free 
 Press, Perth Free Church Presbytery's Record, Children's 
 Record of the Free Church of Scotland, and the Children's 
 Magazine of the U.P. Church. Though the largest
 
 16 Heart Echoes. 
 
 number of his contributions have his name in full or his 
 initials appended, yet he frequently signed himself 
 " Wild Rose " ; and " Muirland Jock " and " Auchter- 
 gaven Gallant " have each been used. 
 
 A brief sketch of his life and four of his poems ap- 
 peared in the seventh series of " Modern Scottish Poets " 
 edited and issued by Mr D. H. Edwards, of Brechin, in 
 1884. Mr Edwards says of him that he "Is a poet 
 whose mind appears to revolve in an atmosphere of 
 reflective thought and piety, and his poems and hymns 
 are penetrated by feeling and tasteful spirituality. 
 His writings, both in prose and verse, con- 
 tributed to several magazines and newspapers are full of 
 pleasing thought, and are instinct with a poetical and 
 devout spirit." 
 
 While on his deathbed, a few days before he passed 
 away, a letter came from Mr Robert Ford, of Glasgow, 
 asking permission to include his name and specimens of 
 his poetry in a volume he was then engaged on, " The 
 Harp of Perthshire," and the last letter he wrote was in 
 reply granting the request. The thought that he was 
 to be remembered in the annals of Scottish song was a 
 source of comfort to him in his last hours. 
 
 Mr Robertson was never married, but his sister, 
 Isabella, who gave up her business in Dundee to become 
 his housekeeper, filled his home with the sunshine of 
 love, and it would have been difficult to have found one 
 more unselfish and more unsparing in her efforts to 
 make her brother comfortable and happy. Like- 
 minded, and endowed with the same poetic faculty, 
 she was able to sympathize with him in his efforts 
 to attain the poetical ideals he had set before himself, 
 and to cheer him on to better things. This volume is 
 the outcome of her sisterly affection, and long may she
 
 Biographical Introduction. 17 
 
 be spared to cherish the memory of her noble-minded 
 brother. 
 
 Mr Robertson died at Bankfoot on the 1st of February 
 1891, and was laid to rest in the Parish Churchyard of 
 Auchtergaven. His simple Christian life commanded 
 the respect and esteem of the whole community, and his 
 remains were followed to the grave by many sincere 
 mourners. 
 
 The following extract from a letter written by one of 
 his correspondents sums up the chief features in the 
 character of this good man and genuine poet : " I had 
 the pleasure of knowing deceased for many years, first 
 through the intimacy of a mutual friend, then personally, 
 but chiefly through his epistolary correspondence, and I 
 never knew one more amiable in character, more 
 charitable in his estimates of men and things, more 
 anxious to raise the common-places of life into the 
 purer atmosphere of the ideal. I know also that the 
 principles he advocated and approved of in speech he 
 carried out consistently in his everyday life." 
 
 His earnest spirit yearned for fuller light 
 
 Upon the mysteries of life and death, and o'er 
 The page of Revelation did he pore 
 
 Till faith grew strong, and to his quickened sight 
 
 The spirit-world grew clearer ; a delight 
 To seek its portals, and to ope the door, 
 And revel in its glories. More and more 
 
 The eye of faith saw farther through the night. 
 Compassionate and sensitive, he felt 
 
 The well-springs of his heart o'erflow to all 
 Who drank of sorrow's cup. And lowly knelt 
 
 Before the throne a blessing down to call. 
 A son of consolation, and a friend 
 Who, Christlike, was leal-hearted to the end. 
 
 J. P.
 
 THE EARNEST STUDENT. 
 
 Consumdratitr." 
 
 T .IKE a meteor's gleam, o'er the desolate plain, 
 
 *-^ The flaming bush shone like a " marvellous light," 
 
 Entrancing the gaze of the lone shepherd swain, 
 
 Who turned from his flock to behold the "great sight," 
 For Jehovah was there, ev'n the Lord God of Might, 
 And, lo, the bush was not consumed ! 
 
 In narrowing circles, moves nearer and near 
 
 The moth to swift death in the fierce lambent flame : 
 80 Moses, o'erpowered with amazement and fear, 
 
 Was drawn towards the fire, but from 'midst thereof 
 
 came 
 
 A voice 'twas Jehovah's, I AM is His name, 
 And Moses was not consumed ! 
 
 How meet that this man ev'n on bare, barren earth, 
 
 Which God's awful presence had made holy ground, 
 Should cast off his shoes O ! I reverence the hearth 
 And the home where the fear of the Lord doth 
 
 abound, 
 And love to the Saviour in each heart is found, 
 
 For these things can ne'er be consumed !
 
 20 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Though towering in honour of Mary or Paul, 
 
 The loftiest Fane that men's hands could uprear ; 
 
 Though lavishly garnished with art, and with all 
 The wealth of a kingdom, if Christ dwelt not there, 
 To me it could never be His house of prayer 
 One day it would all be consumed ! 
 
 But I love my wee kirk on yon bonnie hillside, 
 
 Which the conflict, called " Ten Years," has handed 
 
 down free 
 
 From Erastian bonds Lord, whate'er may betide, 
 O shine in our Zion so dear unto me ! 
 O grant that she true to her symbol may be 
 A bush burning and not consumed ! 
 
 A symbol divine of the Spirit who breathed 
 
 At the first o'er the dark formless chaotic void, 
 And from elements crude, which but weltered and 
 
 seethed, 
 
 Formed system and sun, moon and stars, asteroid, 
 And this earth, which by fire will one day be 
 destroyed, 
 
 And all things therein consumed ! 
 
 A symbol divine of the God-kindled flame 
 
 Which burns in man's breast and gleams in his eye ; 
 
 Though he must return to the dust whence he came, 
 His soul shall outlast all the stars in the sky ; 
 Created immortal, the soul cannot die, 
 
 But will live, and can ne'er be consumed 1
 
 The Earnest Student. 21 
 
 For though it is written, and therefore ordained, 
 
 By Him who made all things, God, righteous and true, 
 
 That "Death came on all men, for all men have sinned" ; 
 Yet, praised be His name, He reveals to our view 
 His covenant of life, which He came to renew 
 
 At the bush which was not consumed ! 
 
 Yea, our Covenant-God, ever ready to bless, 
 
 Remembered His people in far Egypt land ; 
 His listening ear heard their cry of distress, 
 
 As they groaned 'neath the yoke and the taskmaster's 
 
 hand ; 
 
 To lead them out free He gave Moses command 
 At the bush which was not consumed ! 
 
 Who could speak of th' oppressions from which since 
 
 the fall 
 Countless myriads have groaned ! could we travel 
 
 along 
 
 The dark, doleful record, the tale would appal 
 The horrible cruelty, tyranny, wrong : 
 The weak trampled down and enslaved by the strong, 
 Till the last ray of hope was consumed ! 
 
 But God is our Refuge, and tyrants shall know 
 That He of earth's princes is both Lord and King ; 
 
 Though Pharaoh refuse to let Israel go, 
 
 With songs of deliverance the welkin shall ring 
 When safe through the sea He His people will bring 
 Up to where the bush was not consumed !
 
 22 Heart Echoes. 
 
 And then, in " that mountain," in beauty will rise 
 
 The Wilderness Church for thanksgiving and prayer ; 
 Whence smoke of burnt offerings will waft toward the 
 
 skies, 
 
 And praise to our God fill the wild desert air ; 
 For His redeemed people shall worship Him there, 
 As He sware at the bush not consumed ! 
 
 f be !0rifs Ian. 
 
 ( PSALM cxviu. 24, 25.) 
 
 TT NOTHER da 7 peculiarly Thine own 
 ' * Hath dawned serenely on my opening sight, 
 With gladsome heart I come before Thy throne 
 To praise Thy sparing mercy, Lord of Might. 
 
 O may the Sun of Righteousness arise 
 
 On me this hallowed morn with cheering ray ! 
 
 Lift my desires to realms beyond the skies; 
 Where I shall spend an endless Sabbath Day. 
 
 Help me, O Lord, to spend this day to Thee 
 In thankful offerings for Thy mercies given ; 
 
 In lowly worship I would bend the knee 
 
 To Thee whom angels praise in highest heaven.
 
 The Earnest Student, 23 
 
 O bring me to Thy sanctuary, Lord ! 
 
 Be with Thy saints Thy blessing to impart ; 
 Help us to praise Thy name, to read Thy Word, 
 
 And render Thee true homage of the heart. 
 
 And while we listen to the joyful sound 
 
 Of Thy rich mercy to our rebel race, 
 May love, fresh kindling, in our hearts abound 
 
 To Him who died to save us through His grace. 
 
 Where'er, O Lord, Thy message is proclaimed 
 To fallen man, Thy gracious power bestow ; 
 
 Where'er Thy great and saving name is named, 
 Convince, convert, constrain the knee to bow. 
 
 Soon, soon may every realm and people know 
 Thy sacred name, and sacred honours pay 
 
 To Thee, the Sovereign Lord of all below, 
 
 For this end may Thy servants work and pray. 
 
 31 Morsbipfiti Spirit. 
 
 "I will worship toward Thy holy temple." 
 
 PSAJ,M cxxxviii. 2. 
 
 T7ATHER of lights, Thy name we bless 
 ^ For this first Sabbath of the year ; 
 And all Thy loving kindnesses 
 
 We will within Thy courts declare.
 
 24 Heart Echoes. 
 
 The former year Thy goodness crowned, 
 And with increase our garners stored ; 
 
 Thy covenant mercies much abound, 
 
 And bless our homes, and cheer our board. 
 
 We praise Thee for the church we love ; 
 
 Her pastors, brethren, children dear ; 
 For Jesus, King enthroned above, 
 
 Who, though unseen, is ever near. 
 
 Give joy to mourning hearts that grieve 
 For loss of loved ones called away ; 
 
 Poor and afflicted ones relieve, 
 
 And be Thou still the orphan's stay. 
 
 Oft heard we in the year that's fled 
 
 Thy truth proclaimed with glowing tongue ; 
 
 In rapt devotion heavenward sped 
 
 The prayer oft made, the praises sung. 
 
 At Christ's own table too we sat : 
 
 No holier joy can mortals feel ; 
 What hallowed memories linger yet 
 
 Of love and grace unspeakable ! 
 
 Let all Thy mercies, Lord, incline 
 
 Our hearts to seek Thee more and more ; 
 
 Henceforth we would be wholly Thine 
 To love, to serve, and to adore.
 
 The Earnest Student. 25 
 
 Communion 
 
 IN AUCHTERGAVEN FREE CHURCH. 
 
 COME, Spirit, ever blest, 
 Into Thy House of Rest, 
 
 And bring for broken hearts Thy blessed healing. 
 Corne, like the balmy spring, 
 Come as on dove's soft wing, 
 To weary souls the Lamb of God revealing. 
 
 Come, like the sun's bright rays, 
 
 Which flood Thy House of Praise 
 With gladsome light, through every lattice streaming ; 
 
 Pour on these souls of Thine 
 
 The light of love divine, 
 Which in Immanuel's blessed face is beaming. 
 
 Around the festive board 
 
 We meet with one accord, 
 To keep the ordinance of His appointing ; 
 
 Let fall celestial dew, 
 
 Baptize us all anew 
 Thy ministers, as with fresh oil anointing. 
 
 O more of Christ to know, 
 
 O more like Christ to grow, 
 As grow the lilies, pure and bright and tender ; 
 
 Lord, that our lives may be 
 
 Made beautiful for Thee, 
 By lowly service done in glad surrender.
 
 26 Heart Echoes. 
 
 So may Thy rest and calm, 
 
 The true soul-healing balm, 
 Strengthen us for Thy work and witness-bearing ; 
 
 That, earthly seasons past, 
 
 We meet in heaven at last, 
 Thy everlasting rest and glory sharing. 
 
 JVfter Communion. 
 
 " And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we 
 were with Him in the holy mount." 2 PETER i. 18. 
 
 nP to the holy mount this day, 
 With joy and gladness we did go ; 
 With eager step bent we our way, 
 And soon the world was far below. 
 
 To us in mercy it was given 
 
 To see the Saviour's glory there ; 
 
 Seemed it the very gate of heaven, 
 For surely we did breathe its air. 
 
 Fell soft and low upon the ear 
 
 Through the still air the Master's voice 
 " Eat, O my friends lo, I am near ; 
 
 Drink, O beloved, and rejoice ! "
 
 The Earnest Student. 27 
 
 And, lo ! a banquet, passing rare 
 Rich wine and manna from above ; 
 
 While o'er us streamed His banner fair, 
 Emblazoned with Redeeming Love. 
 
 And while the Bread of Life we eat, 
 
 We call to mind the agony, 
 The cross, the shame, the bloody sweat 
 
 The night in dark Gethsemane. 
 
 O Lamb of God, our sin we mourn, 
 
 But Thou canst cleanse the deepest stain ; 
 
 Speak peace to hearts with sorrow torn, 
 And bring us back to Thee again. 
 
 " Drink, drink," He cries ; " this is My blood, 
 With this is sealed the covenant sure ; 
 
 From everlasting it hath stood, 
 To everlasting shall endure." 
 
 We pledged our hearts through weal or ill 
 To love Him long as life shall last ; 
 
 We pledged our all to serve Him still 
 Then from our eyes the vision passed. 
 
 Full slowly we our way retrace 
 Adown the mount to scenes of care ; 
 
 To keep Thy vows, O Lord, give grace 
 Be this our after-supper prayer.
 
 28 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Come, Boll! Spirit. 
 
 COME, Spirit, pure and blest, 
 Thy glory let me see ; 
 Thy dwelling make within this breast, 
 And fit it, Lord, for Thee. 
 
 Come to create anew 
 
 My nature, marred with sin 
 O make me pure and right and true 
 
 And beautiful within. 
 
 Life-giving Paraclete, 
 
 Make Thou my spirit whole ; 
 With healing interpenetrate 
 
 The chambers of my soul. 
 
 Darkness and doubt remove ; 
 
 Shed forth Thy holy light ; 
 Come with glad unction from above 
 
 To cheer my inward sight. 
 
 'Tis Thine to light my way 
 
 Through this dark vale of woe ; 
 
 From the right path let me not stray, 
 My wayward will subdue. 
 
 Lord, I would be content, 
 
 Whate'er my earthly lot, 
 If with Thy holiness were blent 
 
 My every deed and thought.
 
 The Earnest Student. 29 
 
 Be Thou through changeful years 
 
 My Comforter and Friend ; 
 And when I quit this vale of tears 
 
 I'll praise Thee without end. 
 
 f mis $1 lor&. 
 
 TESUS my Lord, my Sun and Shield, 
 J Thou who my soul from death did'st free, 
 Unloose my tongue, aid me to yield 
 A joyful meed of praise to Thee. 
 
 Fountain of Life and Truth and Light, 
 The ground of all my hopes and peace, 
 
 Thy gladsome beams dispelled my night, 
 Thy voice bade guilty terrors cease. 
 
 Master, whate'er I call my own, 
 Here at Thy feet I would resign ; 
 
 Lord, I would live as Thine alone, 
 My chiefest joy to call Thee mine. 
 
 My Shepherd, I in Thee confide, 
 Permit me not from Thee to stray ; 
 
 No danger lurks where Thou dost lead, 
 For Thou at once art Guide and Way.
 
 30 Heart Echoes. 
 
 O not on earth, and not in heaven 
 Is one whom I desire like Thee ; 
 
 Wholly to Thee I would be given : 
 O be Thou all in all to me. 
 
 (Pniu iii. 12). 
 
 TTOW shall I ever cease to praise 
 
 J A The hand which did me apprehend, 
 
 Careering madly in the ways 
 
 Which downward to destruction tend ? 
 
 Saviour mine ! I bless the hour 
 
 When, grasped by Thee with loving hand, 
 
 1 was released from Satan's power, 
 And rescued as a burning brand. 
 
 Lord, I would ever follow Thee, 
 
 And in Thy strength strive to attain 
 
 To that ideal life to be 
 
 Aye found in Thee, my chiefest gain. 
 
 Let no vain thought lurk in my mind 
 That I am perfect, need no more 
 
 To strive, but leaving things behind, 
 Still stretch to things which are before.
 
 The Earnest Student. 31 
 
 And ever pressing to the goal, 
 
 And reaching forth to gain the prize, 
 
 O may my rescued, ransomed soul 
 
 Share Thy sweet rest beyond the skies. 
 
 ti Honor*. 
 
 Why stand ye here all the day idle?" MATT. xx. 6. 
 
 IN the world's market place 
 Idle to-day ; 
 Losing the heavenward race 
 
 Dreaming away ; 
 Gird to thy task undone, 
 Ere lost yon sinking sun, 
 Fight till the victory's won 
 Up and away ! 
 
 What thy hands find to do, 
 
 Do it to-day ; 
 Night ah, how near to you ! 
 
 Work while you may ; 
 Wait neither time nor tide, 
 Every weight cast aside 
 Folly, sloth, pleasure, pride 
 
 Up and away !
 
 32 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Seed fields of richest soil 
 Call thee to-day ; 
 Heaven shall reward thy toil, 
 
 Hear and obey ; 
 Harvest of golden grain, 
 Blessing for all thy pain, 
 Verily thou shalt gain- 
 Up and away ! 
 
 Lose not the golden hours, 
 
 Dreaming away, 
 While hell's malignant powers 
 
 Swell their array ; 
 Arm, arm, be brave and true, 
 Valiantly dare and do, 
 Glorious reward for you 
 Up and away ! 
 
 Onward and upward then, 
 
 Heavenward thy way ; 
 Angels shall guard thee when 
 
 Entered the fray ; 
 Fight for the golden crown, 
 Thine shall be bright renown, 
 When laid thy armour down 
 On then away !
 
 The Earnest Student. 33 
 
 /TATHER, happy children, gather, 
 ^-* And with heart and voice unite ; 
 Sing the praise of God the Father, 
 
 He is Lord of love and light ; 
 Round the throne let all appear, 
 And with God begin the year. 
 
 Jesus, like a shepherd tender, 
 Look on us while here we bow ; 
 
 Little lambs to Thee surrender 
 O receive and bless us now ; 
 
 From the pitfall and the snare 
 
 Keep our feet while runs the year. 
 
 Holy Spirit, make Thy dwelling 
 In each lowly loving heart ; 
 
 May we list Thy sweet voice telling 
 Us to choose the better part ; 
 
 Point for us the pathway clear 
 
 As we journey through the year. 
 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
 Three in One, and One in Three, 
 
 Through the faith of Jesus' merit 
 May we Thy salvation see, 
 
 And in an eternal sphere 
 
 Spend an everlasting year.
 
 34 Heart Echoes. 
 
 ItttU f tlgrhiw. 
 
 0COME, let us be pressing 
 Along the heavenly road ; 
 Safe from all fears distressing, 
 
 We '11 reach the bright abode 
 Where saints in bliss transcending 
 Surround the Saviour's throne ; 
 Angelic hosts attending 
 
 With songs Him King they own. 
 
 Full many a martyr hoary, 
 
 Full many a saint of God, 
 Even children now in glory, 
 
 The pilgrim's path have trod ; 
 Why should we fear to follow 
 
 That glorious happy band ? 
 Farewell to pleasures hollow ; 
 
 We '11 hie to glory -land. 
 
 O may we grow in meetness 
 
 For that bright happy home, 
 And strive to gain completeness 
 
 While here on earth we roam. 
 Lord, send Thy preservation 
 
 From weakness and from sin ; 
 O shield us from temptation, 
 
 And cleanse the heart within.
 
 The Earnest Student. 35 
 
 Lo, yonder is the river 
 
 Between us and that shore 
 Where sin and death can never 
 
 Grieve little pilgrims more : 
 The Saviour succour lending, 
 
 We '11 safely cross the tide ; 
 Our pilgrim journey ending, 
 
 We '11 aye with Him abide. 
 
 Hfnfant praises. 
 
 TJAIL to our Redeemer King ! 
 J A Cheerfully we come to sing 
 Grateful songs of praise to Thee ; 
 Hear our artless minstrelsy. 
 
 Joyfully we will proclaim 
 Matchless honours to Thy name ; 
 Echoing the songs above, 
 While we praise Thy wondrous love. 
 
 Thou did'st leave Thy throne on high, 
 And on earth did'st bleed and die 
 Little children to redeem 
 We will sing the wondrous theme.
 
 36 Heart Echoes. 
 
 As in days and years we grow, 
 While we sojourn here below, 
 May we ever grow in grace 
 Ever seek Thy blessed face. 
 
 Thine in childhood we would be, 
 Thine when riper years we see, 
 Thine when drawn our parting breath r 
 Thine when closed our eyes in death. 
 
 CIjtten's 
 
 OABBATH school and congregation, 
 ^3 Raise to-day the grateful song 
 To the God of our salvation, 
 
 Who our Zion doth make strong ; 
 
 Pastors, teachers, 
 
 Parents, children, 
 Mingle in each praising throng. 
 
 Ye who dwell in vale or highland, 
 
 Meet to-day in Jesus' name ; 
 Ye who dwell on coast or island, 
 Swell the praise of Jesus' fame ; 
 Pastors, teachers, 
 Parents, children, 
 Laud your King with loud acclaim t
 
 The Earnest Student. 37 
 
 Pastors, teachers, tell the story 
 
 Tell of Christ the crucified, 
 How for us He veiled His glory, 
 Came to earth and bled and died 
 To redeem us 
 From sin's thraldom 
 O let Christ be magnified. 
 
 Parents, sacred vows renewing, 
 
 Yield your children to His care ; 
 And while mercies past reviewing, 
 Breathe the humble fervent prayer 
 That the Saviour 
 Still would lead them 
 Safely through each future year. 
 
 Parents, teachers, give them training 
 
 In the knowledge of the Lord ; 
 Be ye not yourselves refraining 
 From due reading of His word ; 
 Every evening, 
 Every morning, 
 In your homes be God adored. 
 
 Children, follow good behaviour, 
 
 Be obedient, humble, mild ; 
 Imitate your loving Saviour, 
 Who for you became a child : 
 O so lowly, 
 And so holy, 
 Harmless, pure and undefiled.
 
 38 Heart choes. 
 
 God who hearest our petitions, 
 Let Thy Spirit still descend 
 On our Church, her work and missions- 
 Comfort, strengthen, and extend ; 
 be gracious 
 To Thy vineyard, 
 Lord, a double blessing send. 
 
 PARED to see another year 
 
 Dawning on our pilgrim way ; 
 Let us in God's house appear, 
 There our thankful homage pay. 
 
 For His mercies in the past, 
 
 Let our thankful praise ascend ; 
 
 Plead for grace while trials last, 
 And His favour to the end. 
 
 Children, have ye aught to bring 
 Aught to lay at Jesus' feet 1 
 
 Give your hearts, an offering, 
 To the Saviour O how sweet : 
 
 Thus the year we would begin, 
 That His children we may be ; 
 
 Lord, keep little ones from sin 
 May we ever follow Thee.
 
 The Earnest Student. 39 
 
 Known to Thee is all our way, 
 
 All through life be Thou our guide ; 
 
 Little lambs are prone to stray, 
 Saviour, keep them near Thy side. 
 
 As in days and years they grow, 
 May they grow in grace and love ; 
 
 Spare them for Thy church below, 
 Pit them for Thy courts above. 
 
 Jii>hJ fear. 
 
 (The 1st day of January 1888 was a Sabbath.) 
 
 0YEAR that gently glideth in, 
 To greet us on this hallowed morn, 
 What hopes and fears are with thee born, 
 To mark thee in this world of sin 1 
 
 Annus Domini ! year of Grace ! 
 Dies Domini ! day of Peace ! 
 Twin sisters born in hopeful hour, 
 A gift from God, a gracious dower. 
 
 Throughout our own beloved land 
 Let Grace and Peace go hand and hand ; 
 Cast their sweet spell o'er sea and shore, 
 Till strife and discord rage no more.
 
 40 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Let Grace subdue a world of sin, 
 Let Peace her blessed reign begin : 
 Both weave a cord of love to bind 
 In one the hearts of all mankind. 
 
 O God of Peace, O God of Grace, 
 Lead by Thy hand our wandering race 
 Let nations learn while runs the year 
 Thy laws to keep, Thy name to fear ! 
 
 0COME, ye people, one and all, 
 And listen to the gospel call ! 
 Your loving Saviour bids you come, 
 He knows you Ve wandered far from home. 
 
 O come to Jesus ! why delay 1 
 Salvation free He gives to-day ; 
 Come then, ye weary ones, and rest 
 Upon Immanuel's loving breast. 
 
 Behold how patiently He stands 
 How lovingly, with outstretched -hands, 
 He pleads with you to let Him in, 
 Ev'n though you may be full of sin !
 
 The Earnest Student. 41 
 
 He shed His precious blood for you, 
 And now He lives to bless you too ! 
 To-day He asks you to receive 
 That peace which He alone can give. 
 
 O do not slight the gracious call 
 Of Him who loves you one and all ! 
 Let angels wing their heavenward way, 
 With news of lost ones found to-day. 
 
 is a lanfc. 
 
 (ISAIAH xxxiii. 17). 
 
 TI7HERE is a land where love eternal reigns, 
 * A land of light and life beyond the skies ; 
 Full oft, when weary with earth's toils and pains, 
 
 I upward gaze with wistful longing eyes : 
 The while my dearest aspirations rise 
 
 Towards that blest haven of my soul's desire ; 
 For we inherit that which never dies ; 
 
 And ours those ardent longings, which do higher 
 
 Than life's delusive dreams or earth's vain shows aspire. 
 
 Here all is Semblance ; there Reality ! 
 The tenure of our earthly life is brief j 
 Yet man is born to immortality,
 
 42 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Though here he undergoes much pain and grief, 
 With death at last God's message of relief 
 
 For then corporeal ills are at an end, 
 Passive he lies, like to a fallen leaf ; 
 
 Th' immortal part of him has gone to spend 
 
 Its endless years but where ? This doth my thought 
 transcend. 
 
 Come, blessed Hope, sure anchor of the soul, 
 
 Which entereth into that within the veil ; 
 Come, Faith, and bear me on to that bright goal, 
 
 Tho' frail my bark and tempest-torn my sail ; 
 Shrink not, my soul, to pass thro' death's dark vale, 
 
 Ev'n there thou 'It not be comfortless ; for He, 
 Whom cruel hands (for sins of thine) did nail 
 
 'Midst malefactors to th' accursed tree, 
 
 Shall lead thee to thy home : His beauty thou shalt 
 see!
 
 THE SON OF CONSOLATION. 
 
 aam f laa fi 
 
 ( JOHX xi. ) 
 
 I WAT thae lassies were begrutten sair, 
 A dowie hame was theirs as e'er ye saw ; 
 An' aye 's their een wad licht upon his chair, 
 
 Stannin' sae toom ochone ! the tears wid fa' ; 
 Death gart the hoose luik no' the same ava'. 
 The neebors ca'd to comfort them in need ; 
 'Twas maistlins vain the prap bein' ta'en awa' ; 
 An' mair, the twa had luik'd for his remeade 
 Frae Ane wha hadna come afore their brither dee'd. 
 
 They had sent timely word that he was ill 
 To Him they coonted as their trusty Frien' ; 
 
 He cam' na. Had He tint for them gudewill, 
 
 That He twa days still bides whaur He had been ? 
 
 It luik'd nae like His usual, they did ween ; 
 But yet they cudna think their trust beleed ; 
 
 Sae wait a wee, an' syne it will be seen 
 That He was still a faithfu' Frien' indeed, 
 Though steerin' ne'er a fit afore their brither dee'd.
 
 44 Heart Echoes. 
 
 At last they laid the corpse araang his kin, 
 Wha nae mair see the sun nor hear the blast ; 
 
 Whaur cease for aye the warl's strife an' din ; 
 For to the deid the things o' time are past. 
 
 Thae lassies thocht o' him they 'd seen the last 
 That noo frae a' thing earthly he was freed, 
 
 An' they cam' hame frae's burial sair dooncast. 
 But Ane there is wha feels for herts that bleed : 
 He comes, He comes to gie them back their deid ! 
 
 For noo the Maister wastlins taen His way, 
 To gie thae puir things hert'nin His intent ; 
 
 The toon was in a steer, atweel that day ; 
 
 The sisters ran, to meet Him they were bent ; 
 
 An' Mary fell at 's feet as in a fent ; 
 
 Syne tauld Him o' the weird 'at they had dree'd. 
 
 An' siccan days o' sorra they had spent ; 
 
 The while her prostrat form He meekly e'ed 
 She cried, " Gin Thood'st been here my brither hadna 
 dee'd ! " 
 
 " Thy brither, verilie, sail rise again ! " 
 
 The Maister said, while love in 's bosom glowed ; 
 
 An' words sic-like, whilk ne'er frae tongue nor pen 
 Hae come afore nor since, frae 's lips there flowed ; 
 
 O, mony a thocht on them hae I bestowed ! 
 
 Words, Gude be praised, whilk he that runs may read ; 
 
 An' meelions o' oor race to them hae owed 
 Sic poo'er hae they to rout a' fear an' dreed 
 The heavenly peace an' joy they had afore they dee'd.
 
 The Son of Consolation. 45 
 
 " Whaur hae ye laid him ? " syne the Maister said, 
 
 An' Mary, cannilie did guide Him where 
 Her brither, in a vault near by, was laid 
 
 By this time neebors roun' had gather'd there, 
 Sae after twa three words an' syne a prayer 
 
 " Come forth, My friend ! " the Maister cried aloud 
 Save 's a' ! the deid man's feet were on the stair, 
 
 An' oot he cam' rowed in a snaw- white shrood ! 
 
 An' ane an a' praised God, an' lang, lang wonderin 
 stood. 
 
 (LtTKE viii. 43-48). 
 
 E yon puir afflictit creatur', 
 Dwinin' sair in form an' featur', 
 Unco wan wi' loss o' bluid ; 
 Weary twal years she's been ailin', 
 A' she tried 's been nane availin' 
 
 Aiblins dune mair harm than guid. 
 
 "Wared on doctors a' her livin', 
 Hinmost plack an' farden given, 
 
 Vain their drugs an' skill an' lear ; 
 Help noo mair than ever needin', 
 Sib an' frem't gae by unheedin' 
 
 'At she sits sae dowie there.
 
 46 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Dames draw skirts, an' sail by faster, 
 Gentles sanctified shy past her 
 
 Scrufiin' claes wid them defile ! 
 O, thou weary pinin' woman ! 
 Hert'nin' thee would be mair human, 
 
 Yet for thee nae couthie smile ! 
 
 But there's Ane wha kens ye 're grievin' 
 His delicht to gie relieving 
 
 Coffs thy life ev'n frae the grave. 
 Ay ! He's mercif u' an' holy, 
 Lifts the boo'ed-doon puir and lowly ; 
 
 Strang is He to heal and save. 
 
 Whisht ! What means the distant hummin' 1 
 Sic a crood ! An wha 's this comin' ? 
 
 Lo, the Man o' Nazareth ! 
 Mercy me ! she's aff and strivin' 
 'Mang the thick I wis sic drivin' 
 
 Mayna be the creatur's death. 
 
 Whiles the boatie through rough watter, 
 Whilk e'en boord an' beam micht shatter, 
 
 For safe port the tide maun stem ; 
 Sae the woman birzes through them, 
 Life or death, she maun mak' to Him, 
 
 Just to touch His garment's hem.
 
 The Son of Consolation. 47 
 
 Touch't ! ! An' sic a touch ! revealin' 
 To her sense miraculous healin' 
 
 O' her waefu' maladie ; 
 Hear His words, hoo sweetly spoken, 
 11 Daughter, go in peace ! " a token 
 
 O' the love to her an' me ! 
 
 Citmi. 
 
 (MARK v. 41). 
 
 TITHE faither 's hert 's forfochen sair, 
 -1 For his wee lassie, deein' there ; 
 The doctors, baffled, can do nae mair 
 For the puir lammie. 
 
 He hears that Ane comes to the toon, 
 Whase skill 's been noised the kintra roun' 
 See hoo the streets he bickers doon 
 For help till 's lammie ! 
 
 He mak's him for yon multitude, 
 Wha roun' the Maister thrang an' crood ; 
 Warslin' inower to whaur He stood, 
 Cries " Save my lammie ! " 
 
 Ane frae 's ain hoose a wee thing rash 
 Drew naur his words cut like a lash 
 The faither's hert " Why sud ye fash ? 
 Clean gane 's your lammie ! "
 
 48 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Syne spak' the Maister " Dinna grieve ! 
 Fear na, O man, but just believe ! 
 Wha trust in Me, though deid, sail leeve, 
 An' sae your lammie ! " 
 
 Behaud the Maister at the bed, 
 Whauron sweet twal-year-auld lay dead ! 
 He took her wee cauld hand an' said, 
 " Rise, My sweet lammie ! " 
 
 Her speerit comes, she opes her eyes, 
 An' aff the couch on whilk she lies ; 
 Noo joy, instead o' tears an' cries 
 For the wee lammie ! 
 
 Noo, bairns, the Maister 's here th' day 
 Oh, dinna turn f rae Him away ; 
 For, gin ye list, ye '11 hear Him say, 
 " Come, ilk wee lammie !" 
 
 31 Billstto &*rm0n. 
 
 (MATT. v). 
 
 TITHE day was warm, the sky was clear, 
 A An' cludless, far 's the e'e cud reach ; 
 An hunders cam' frae far an' near, 
 To hear an unco Preacher preach.
 
 The Son of Consolation. 49 
 
 Nae kirk cud haud the half, I wat ; 
 
 An' sae they speel'd a green hillside ; 
 An' there upon the girse they sat 
 
 An' form'd a congregation wide. 
 
 The hill birds up, an' aff they whirred ; 
 
 The sheep, dumfoon'ert, glow'red and ran, 
 An' turn't an' glow'red, syne aff they birred. 
 
 When a' was quate a voice began : 
 
 " Fair fa' the anes in speerit puir, 
 
 Wha brag na o' their gifts or grace ; 
 To sic there is the promise sure : 
 
 They '11 in God's kingdom get a place. 
 
 " Fair fa' the dooncast an' the sad, 
 Wha dowie are aboot hert sin ; 
 Lat sic be cheerfu', for I 's wad 
 'At theirs sail be gran' comfortin'. 
 
 " Fair fa' the meek an' lowly man, 
 
 Though puir an' o' the meanest birth ; 
 Yet na'theless it 's in God's plan, 
 By heirship his the fruitfu' earth. 
 
 " An' they wha thirst for richteousness, 
 
 Wha set their herts on heavenly gear, 
 A fu' cup sail be theirs nae less, 
 
 Theyse get till they can haau nae mair.
 
 50 Heart Echoes. 
 
 " Fair fa' the canny an' the kin', 
 Wha wadna do a cruel deed ; 
 The mercifu' in hert an' min' 
 Sail mercy get in time o' need. 
 
 " The bairns' herts hoo pure an' clean ! 
 
 Wha ony ill in them cud trace 1 
 Fair fa' sic-like, to them it 's gien 
 To see My heavenly Faither's face. 
 
 " When din brak's oot, bear this in mind, 
 The way o' peace aye airt your road ; 
 For peace is best, an' that ye '11 find, 
 An' ye '11 be ca'd the bairns o' God. 
 
 " Wha for God's richt dree death or chain 
 
 At hands o' fierce or bluidy men ; 
 Fair fa' thae same, for they sail gain 
 A kingdom that sail hae nae en'. 
 
 " When for My sake ye hae to dree 
 
 The bitter scorn, the hatefu' froon, 
 An' persecution gars ye flee 
 
 For verra life frae toon to toon. 
 
 " Be gled, for sic 's been dune afore ; 
 
 'Twas sae your godlie fore-bears fared 
 For you the martyr's croon 's in store, 
 
 An' great in heaven is your rewaird.
 
 The Son of Consolation. 51 
 
 " O' this dark warl ye are the licht, 
 Afore fouk lat it shine like day ; 
 Yon city isna hid f rae sicht, 
 For, lo, it stands upon a brae. 
 
 " Sae lat your licht be seen by men 
 
 They need the licht to lat them see ; 
 An' by your warks ye '11 lat them ken 
 'At ye hae gat your licht frae Me. 
 
 " By earth or heaven na ! dinna swear, 
 
 For God alane the same did mak' ; 
 Nor by your heid ae single hair 
 Ye canna cheenge to white or black. 
 
 " To lo'e a neebor or a frien' 
 
 Is but an ord'nar' thing to dae : 
 
 Your guidness isna worth ae preen, 
 
 Till ye can lo'e your bitter fae. 
 
 " Yon cheerie sun, whilk blinks abune, 
 
 My Faither sends to warm ye a' ; 
 He gars the cluds drap fatness doon 
 On bad an' guid His saf t shooers fa'. 
 
 " For ill ye get lat guid be given ; 
 As ye'd be dune by, sae do ye ; 
 An' as your Faither wha 's in heaven 
 Ts perfect, even sae mat ye be."
 
 Heart Echoes. 
 
 I've sermons heard, I've sermons read, 
 A vast hae sermons tried to mak' ; 
 
 But this ane a' wha heard it said, 
 " Like this man nae man ever spak'." 
 
 " Oft* f rmljin a." 
 
 TT7HE tables were busket wi' linen sae clean, 
 1 A by-ord'nar' stillness crap owre the scene ; 
 Wee laddies sat by, an' wee lassies a wheen 
 Hoo their eenie were starin' wi' wonder ! 
 
 The minister spak' o' the love, " mair than love," 
 Whilk fush God's ain Son f rae the glory above 
 To dee on a cross, oor redemption to prove ; 
 An' we cud do naething but wonder ! 
 
 The elders gaed round wi' the breid an' the wine, 
 Whilk speak to oor sauls o' His deein divine ; 
 An' we say in oor herts " Evermair, Lord, we 're Thine," 
 An' syne we 're a' lost lost in wonder ! 
 
 An' here are auld saunts wi' their heids boo'ed an' grey, 
 Gettin' rest an' refreshin' frae toil o' the way ; 
 They bless an' they thank Him fu' hertie this day, 
 Whase faithfu'ness still gars them wonder !
 
 The Son of Consolation. 53 
 
 Afore we depairt on oor several ways, 
 Oor voices are joined in a sweet psalm o' praise ; 
 O for strength'nin' to mind till the end o' oor days 
 O' the promise we made, rapt in wonder ! 
 
 $atut. 
 
 0SHE was cheery, fu' o' glee ; 
 Sae spunky, pawky, an' sae slee ; 
 Aft played her lichtsome pranks on me, 
 Sae roguish was Wee Janet ! 
 
 Her eenie were o' bonniest blue ; 
 Wi' rosy cheeks, an' cherry mou' ; 
 Owre a', a bonnie healthfu' hue : 
 A pretty ane was Janet ! 
 
 Aft by the burnie I espied 
 The bairn, her spaniel at her side ; 
 The group micht been an artist's pride, 
 A picture " Sport and Janet ! " 
 
 A blicht fell in an evil oor, 
 It lichted on oor village floo'er ; 
 Lang, lang she lay aneath its poo'er, 
 Sair hauden doon was Janet !
 
 54 Heart Echoes. 
 
 'Twas sair to stand aside her bed, 
 'Twas sair to hear her as she said, 
 " O ma ! O ma ! my head, my head ! " 
 Alas for puir Wee Janet ! 
 
 An' when 'twas fear't the bairn wad dee, 
 O there was mony a tearf u' e'e 
 Sic wide regret and sympathie, 
 For muckle lo'ed was Janet ! 
 
 Death cam' at last, an' herts were riven ; 
 To us, wha mourn, there 's comfort given ; 
 For playin' 'mang the bairns o' heaven 
 Fu' cheerie noo is Janet ! 
 
 in Jtumoriam. 
 
 THOMAS YOUNG. DIED lOrn MAY 1884 ; AGED 14 YEARS. 
 
 WE weep, dear boy, for thee, 
 Torn from our side in all thy youthful bloom ; 
 Cut down, alas ! to fill an early tomb, 
 We weep, dear boy, for thee ! 
 
 We weep, dear boy, for thee, 
 But not as those to whom no hope is given ; 
 We rest assured that thou art safe in heaven. 
 
 No weeping there to thee.
 
 The Son of Consolation. 55 
 
 Why should we weep for thee ? 
 No more shall pain and anguish wring thy brow ; 
 Hushed are thy moanings : all is peaceful now, 
 
 No need to weep for thee. 
 
 Yet we must weep for thee, 
 
 Else breaks the heart, o'erf raught with woe and grief; 
 Our tears are to our stricken souls relief. 
 
 Ay, we must weep for thee ! 
 
 O we shall joy with thee ! 
 When, after all our woes and pains are o'er, 
 We meet together on a happier shore, 
 
 No more to part from thee. 
 
 Farewell, dear boy, to thee ! 
 Thou sleep'st within thy little grave in peace ; 
 We too shall follow thee when troubles cease ; 
 
 Till then, farewell to thee ! 
 
 In JJUmoriam. 
 
 REV. MATTHEW HOWIESON. DIED 29rn MAY 1886. 
 
 LIKE a tall gallant ship which springs a leak, 
 And sinks full sail into mid ocean's breast ; 
 So he our stalwart leader, kind and meek 
 Has quickly gone to rest. 
 
 We loved him for himself so guileless, pure ; 
 
 The very soul of honour ; cheerful, mild ; 
 True gentleman, the same to rich and poor, 
 Ingenuous as a child.
 
 56 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Ambassador for Christ, he ever pled 
 
 His Master's sacred cause, and sought to win 
 Bright jewels for His crown ; to Calvary led 
 The soul convinced of sin. 
 
 And his best sermon was his daily life, 
 
 The poor, the sick were his peculiar care ; 
 Few death-beds in the hour of mortal strife 
 But found him watching there. 
 
 There stands his rnuch-loved church, where twenty years 
 
 And more he fed his flock ; around the door 
 Are women weeping, Mary-like, heart tears, 
 Because he is no more. 
 
 No more ! He lives with the redeemed in heaven, 
 And nevermore shall die ; he wears the crown, 
 To all true followers of the Master given, 
 Of " passionless renown." 
 
 In Jlteoriam. 
 
 MARGARET M'KENZIE, WIFE OF WILLIAM M'KENZIE, POLICE 
 CONSTABLE, BANKFOOT. DIED SRD SEPTEMBER 1889. 
 
 angel came down to the harvest field, 
 At the close of the toilsome day ; 
 To glean for the Lord the best it might yield, 
 And he bore our beloved one away.
 
 The Son of Consolation. 57 
 
 O great was our grief when we knew she was gone, 
 
 And bitter the tears we shed ; 
 But the Lord, whom she loved, is kind to His own, 
 
 He gives peace to her lone narrow bed. 
 
 Her life was a round of sweet deeds of love, 
 
 Her works do follow her there 
 Where her pure spirit dwells, with her Saviour above, 
 
 In the mansions all gloriously fair. 
 
 But a memory sweet she has left behind 
 
 Of her Christian faith and grace, 
 Of the patient love which adorned her mind 
 
 And shone in her gentle face. 
 
 o JErs draljam, 
 
 IN REMEMBRANCE OF HER VISIT TO THE AUTHOR, 
 29TH SEPTEMBER 1890. 
 
 WHEN to the gates of death thou wast brought nigh 
 Thy marvellous faith in God rose clear to view 
 In these prophetic words " I shall not die ! " 
 
 Yea, they were heard in heaven, and answered too ; 
 For He in whom thou trustedst did renew 
 The tenure of thy life ; to thee He gave, 
 
 With thy returning strength, a work to do : 
 To tell around His mighty power to save, 
 In that He rescued thee from death and from the grave.
 
 58 Heart Echoes. 
 
 I bless the Lord who brought thee safe through all 
 
 Thy overwhelming sorrow, loss, and pain ; 
 Thy tale of woes which did thy life befall 
 
 Filled me with grief, I scarce could tears restrain ; 
 
 Yet, praise His name, He turned thy loss to gain ! 
 For is not Christ with all His fulness thine ? 
 
 His love and faithfulness with thee remain ; 
 Yea, perfected through suffering, thou dost shine, 
 Cheering on life's rough way some weary soul like mine. 
 
 Dear Lady, fare-thee-well ! Christ give thee joy, 
 With length of days and health and blest content ; 
 
 May thy " sweet lassie " and thy darling boy 
 Have choicest blessings on their pathway sent, 
 O may their hearts with sorrow ne'er be rent, 
 
 And may the Saviour mark them for His own ; 
 Them from all danger may His grace prevent, 
 
 And may we all be gathered round His throne, 
 
 In the bright home above where sorrow ne'er is known.
 
 THE FRIEND OF ALL. 
 
 n 
 
 ( COLTBANNIE WOOD, PERTHSHIRE. ) 
 
 BEFORE me, in the footpath, lay 
 A tiny bird, bloodstained and torn ; 
 While bending o'er him from a spray, 
 His little mate seemed all forlorn. 
 
 At morn a gleeful thing of life 
 
 His love-notes warbled through the air ; 
 
 Alas ! ere noon, unequal strife 
 
 Had strewn his dappled plumage there. 
 
 Hawked at till all of life bereft, 
 
 Poor hapless bird, I mourn thy fate ; 
 
 The mangled form thy foe hath left 
 Recalls me to my mortal state. 
 
 Elate with hope life's morn, I ween, 
 
 While flower-strewn paths before us lie ; 
 
 Yet dangers, snares, and foes unseen 
 Their secret ambush round us ply.
 
 60 Heart Echoes. 
 
 The young man glories in his strength, 
 With step so firm and heart so brave ; 
 
 Death-arrows fly, and he at length 
 Sinks into silence and the grave. 
 
 Ambition soars on eager wing, 
 
 Nor recks that life is but a thread ; 
 
 Dreams not of that an hour may bring ; 
 A moment lays us with the dead. 
 
 O Thou who mark'st the sparrow's fall, 
 In shadow of Thy wings me hide : 
 
 Thou seest the dangers, knowest all 
 The haps which may my life betide ! 
 
 Christmas. 
 
 TTAIL, Christmas ! From cathedral dome and spire, 
 
 J A O'er land and sea float sounds of joy-bells ringing ; 
 
 And midnight altars lit with festal fire, 
 
 Gleam o'er devoted crowds their offerings bringing 
 For dedication there. Robed priests are swinging 
 
 Censers of incense ; and the sonorous pealing 
 Of the grand organ, and the full choir singing 
 
 The "Adeste Fideles " thrill with feeling 
 
 Those vast and fervent throngs to the blest Virgin 
 kneeling.
 
 The Friend of All. 61 
 
 Hail, happy time ! O'er the snow-mantled earth 
 December winds blow keen ; the frosty air 
 
 Bids curlers to the ice, calls skaters forth 
 To graceful gliding movement, thrilling rare, 
 Till evening shadows fall, then all repair 
 
 Homeward to Christmas cheer, and joyous dance 
 Under the mistletoe in the Yule-log's glare ; 
 
 Friendship and mirth, beauty and love enhance 
 
 These Christmas social joys as the swift hours advance 
 
 Christmas ah me ! The wolf is at the door 
 
 Of many a lowly dwelling in our land ; 
 And wretchedness and want are pressing sore 
 
 Alike the good and base.. O ye who stand 
 
 In affluence secure, be yours the hand 
 To succour those who pine in Misery's den ! 
 
 Know that our blessed Saviour gave command 
 To " feed the poor." We best obey Him when 
 In charitable deeds we show " goodwill to men." 
 
 0f 
 
 TTFHE fire in the hearth is flickering low, 
 A And a year's last moments are gliding slow ; 
 While unwonted sound of flitting feet 
 Is heard in the midnight city street, 
 Ere twelve when the Old and New Years meet.
 
 62 Heart Echoes. 
 
 How hushed is the night to the stillness of death, 
 As we gaze on the dial with bated breath ; 
 For nought is heard, save the mournful breeze, 
 Till contaction of two vast eternities 
 Is chimed by the clock of the Old Church Tower, 
 As the Old Year expires at the midnight hour. 
 
 Then high o'er the heads of the watchful throng, 
 The clang of the glad bells is wafted along, 
 And a shout as of victory is heard far and near 
 Hurrah ! hurrah ! "A Happy New Year ! " 
 
 TTT 
 A 
 
 'HE old year has departed 
 Alas ! died broken hearted 
 At hearing the near footfall of the " new." 
 While his last hour was fleeting 
 This 'plaint he kept repeating, 
 " How little done of noble or of true ! " 
 And then he passed 
 Away at last 
 To where is no returning, 
 And we his loss are mourning. 
 
 The city bells are pealing 
 With merry chime, revealing 
 The joyful advent of a Stranger here
 
 The Friend of All. 63 
 
 We kept night-watch to meet him, 
 Right heartily we greet him, 
 We hail his entrance with a ringing cheer 
 
 " Hurrah ! New Year, 
 
 Thou 'rt welcome here ! 
 Let joy be now abounding, 
 And peace our homes surrounding." 
 
 And now the Old Year 's gone, 
 
 And now the " New " is on 
 The stage of Time to play his measured part ; 
 
 'Twere folly the pretending 
 
 To prophesy the ending, 
 The future only will the truth impart ; 
 
 The present time is ours 
 
 To rightly use our powers, 
 That each day may tell of something nobly done, 
 
 Here is no standing still, 
 
 To work then with a will 
 At whatever task we find beneath the sun ! 
 
 To THE REV. GEORGE WILLIAMS, IST JANUARY 1891. 
 
 YTFHO' caul' winter win's do blaw, do blaw, 
 * A wirdie sail ower the snaw, the snaw, 
 Tae Norrieston's Bard, 
 Wham Heaven bless and guard, 
 A hertie New Year, an' a', an' a'.
 
 64 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Chorus A hertie New Year, an' a', an' a', 
 A happy New Year, an' a', an' a', 
 Tae Norrieston's bard, 
 Wham Heaven bless and guard. 
 A hertie New Year, an' a', an' a'. 
 
 An' blest be his basket an' store, an' store ; 
 Tod-lowrie bide far frae his door, his door, 
 
 The guid things o' life 
 
 At 's table be rife, 
 
 An' blessin's a' round it a score, a score. 
 A hertie New Year, &c. 
 
 Ye muses send him routh o' rhymes, o' rhymes, 
 To deed in a garb o' auld times, auld times, 
 
 In gweed Aiberdeen 
 
 They '11 jingle I ween 
 
 Like siller bells rung in sweet chimes, sweet chimes, 
 A hertie New Year, &c. 
 
 An' here 's to his hert an' hame, an' hame, 
 An' here 's to his name an' fame, an' fame, 
 
 New lustre ilk year 
 
 Glint on his career, 
 
 Be the toasts o' a f reen' aye the same, the same, 
 A hertie New Year, &c.
 
 The Friend of All. 65 
 
 jHan. 
 
 [The following excellent poem by the Rev. George Williams, 
 the friend and correspondent of Mr Robertson, is here reprinted 
 so that the reply it called forth may be better understood.] 
 
 MY life 's made wretched by a ghaist, 
 By day nor nicht I canna rest 
 A poo'erfu' ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 I 've sat 'mang graifs on table-stane, 
 An' crooned auld sangs my leefu' lane ; 
 But fear this ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 Deid can'les wadna gar me jow, 
 Or turn a hair in a' my pow, 
 Like fearsome ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 Do what I will, it has to see, 
 Gang whaur I will it gangs wi' me 
 The slouchin' ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 I gang to kirk, or bide at hame, 
 The ghaist wytes on me a' the same 
 The poo'erfu' ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 E
 
 66 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Tho' angry, I wad gar ye trew 
 I 'm frien's an' unco pleased wi' you ; 
 It 's this f ause ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 Gin ye lack sillar or braw claes, 
 
 I ne'er lat on I see your face, 
 
 Because the ghaist I canna lay 
 
 'S speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? 
 
 Gin ye be ane o' the genteel, 
 
 ! syne I '11 sweir I like ye weel : 
 Wae worth the ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 1 'm scrimp o' bawbees o' my ain, 
 But talk as gin I 'd lots to len' ; 
 Backset by ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 An' waur nor fibs aboot my purse, 
 I e'en maun pray whan I cud curse 
 Possesst wi' ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say 1 " 
 
 Man, a' my life 's a mak'-believe, 
 My Maker's sel' I wad deceive 
 The awfu' ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say 1 "
 
 The Friend of All. 67 
 
 I like an aefauld, honest chiel, 
 Wha wadna flinch afore the deil, 
 Nor gruesome ghaist I canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 To richt aye yea ; to wrang aye nay 
 
 " tiTlraji sag; qufrat sag tlraj ? lat tfjame sag!" 
 
 In spite o' ghaist I canna lay, 
 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 Rype oot my hert, mak' me upricht, 
 O God, wi' gleeds o' Thine ain licht : 
 Ca' aff the ghaist, whilk Thou canst lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say 1 " 
 
 to tfri> itauntefr JKan. 
 
 FAT 's to be dune wi' ye, puir chiel, 
 Sae sair forfochen wi' a deil 
 In shape o' ghaist ye canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 We '11 sen' ye owre the dub to France, 
 To drink cognac an' smoke an' dance, 
 An' charm the ghaist ye canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say 1 "
 
 68 Heart Echoes. 
 
 There lat ye speel the Eiffel Too'er 
 Twal times per diem, that sud hae poo'er 
 To wab the ghaist ye canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 On tapmost knowp o' 't cock your lane, 
 An' skirl Scotch bagpipes, that sud spaen 
 Or deave awa', gin 't dinna lay, 
 The ghaist aye speirin', " What '11 fouk say 1 " 
 
 Thus far, gin 't turn oot a' in vain, 
 
 Just haud ye far'er sooth to Spain, 
 
 An' fecht wi' nowt syne easier slay 
 
 The ghaist aye speirin', " What '11 fouk say 1 " 
 
 Or gang ye roun' to Italic, 
 Signoras there micht tak' your e'e 
 Clean aff the ghaist ye canna lay, 
 Speirin', speirin', " What '11 fouk say ? " 
 
 Fan a' 's dune, gin ye getna peace, 
 Turn roun' on heel, an' i' the face 
 O' ghaist or deil snap thooms an' say, 
 " Be 't richt ; I carena what '11 fouk say ! "
 
 The Friend of AIL 69 
 
 linna Ian. 
 
 0DINNA ban the douce auld man, 
 We Ve a' oor fau'ts, I daresay ; 
 There 's nae a man in a' the Ian' 
 But needs God's grace and mercy. 
 
 An' ponder 't wee], my rhymin' chiel, 
 
 Yer language isna bonny ; 
 T widna even ca' the deil 
 
 The names ye hae ca'd Johnny. 
 
 "Taed," "Adder," "Spider," we can trace 
 
 Writ in yer category ! 
 To mouth sic terms wad sure disgrace 
 
 Baith Radical and Tory. 
 
 But maybe, lad, ye hae been bit 
 
 Wi' Johnny's terrier doggie, 
 Syne aye the hair to heal the sair, 
 
 An' aye the ither coggie. 
 
 Gin' achin' heid an' empty purse 
 
 Inspire yer wild reflection, 
 Tak' my advice, ye may do worse 
 
 Gan' th' opposite direction ! 
 
 But dinna ban the douce auld man, 
 
 Nae waur is he than mony ; 
 Bereavements, years, an' grief, an' tears, 
 
 Micht plead for puir auld Johnny.
 
 70 Heart Echoes. 
 
 lortor. 
 
 INSCRIBED TO DR BEATTIE, STANLEY, PERTHSHIRE. 
 
 ? IT? WAS like's the grun' was whirlin' roun', 
 
 A While through my breist gaed stang an' stoun' ; 
 Forbye a bummin' i' my croon 
 I needed eair the doctor. 
 
 I flang me doon upon the bed, 
 
 My back ice-cauld, face burnin' red ; 
 
 Oot spak' my grannie, an' she said, 
 
 " Losh, we maun ca' the doctor." 
 
 He cam' gart 's knuckles play knick-knack 
 Upon my breist, my ribs, my back ; 
 What sairs your habeas corpus ack, 
 
 When near ye sic a doctor ? 
 
 His something-nosis he made oot ; 
 Says he, " It 's pleurisy, nae doot ; 
 Lie there a week, or ye sail rue 't "- 
 An autocrat the doctor ! 
 
 But what wi' poultice, potion, peel, 
 Prescribed in order by the chiel, 
 Within the week I gat rael weel 
 Big blessin's on the doctor.
 
 The Friend of AIL 71 
 
 NOBLER than trophy of Sword, Flag, or Gun, 
 The Pen, which to virtue a nation doth mould ; 
 The words of the Sage shall outlast the sun, 
 
 All deathless the work of the Thinker bold ; 
 For nought can the fire of true genius damp, 
 
 Tho' often 'tis hid 'neath a lowly roof ; 
 Still brightly it glows like a beacon lamp, 
 
 While those it would bless often hold far aloof. 
 
 tottlj t\it 
 
 THE children are joyful to-day 
 
 For, lo, the beautiful May 
 Hath strewn the valleys and hills with flowers, 
 Which gladden and sweeten fair childhood's hours. 
 
 The children are happy to-day, 
 In the May sun's genial ray : 
 O let them sing praise to our Father in heaven, 
 Who a Sun and a Shield to His children hath given- 
 Even Jesus, who waiteth to-day 
 To wash all our sins away : 
 O let His sweet Spirit shine into each breast, 
 Then we shall become truly happy and blest, 
 And grow, like the flowers of May, 
 Lovelier far than they !
 
 72 Heart Echoes. 
 
 21 JKatj Jlonjj. 
 
 TJILLY ho ! hilly ho ! hark the bugle horn, 
 J A Proclaiming the dawn of the glad May morn ! 
 Come where the wild flowers the greenwood adorn 
 'Tis May, vernal May. 
 
 The young lambkin sports on the gowany lea, 
 The blythe birdie warbles love-notes on the tree, 
 The May sun is shining athwart the blue sea 
 'Tis May, gladsome May. 
 
 The greensward is gleaming with pearly dew, 
 The skylark is piping far up in the blue ; 
 Come, my love, come, I am waiting for you 
 'Tis May, charming May. 
 
 May flowers are blooming on meadow and hill, 
 They bloom on the banks of the glittering rill, 
 They bloom round the homestead, the church, and the mill 
 'Tis May, blushing May. 
 
 O come, my love, come to the woodlands gay, 
 While the sun's bright beams 'mong the dewdrops play 
 For bright is the morn of the opening day 
 Of May, beauteous May. 
 
 Let us hie o'er the heath to fair Murthly's dell, 
 Where the primroses grow and the fairies dwell, 
 And we '11 pledge a love-cup o'er the bog-bush well 
 'Tis May, joyous May.
 
 The Friend of All. 73 
 
 Hilly ho ! hilly ho ! 'tis the bugle horn 
 Resounding afar through the wild Muir-o'-Thorn, 
 Where sparkles the dew of the bright May morn 
 Come away, love away ! 
 
 18ms 0' (Mtranim. 
 
 WHEN a' wat wi' dew on a vernal May mornin', 
 The braes o' Coltrannie are bonnie to see ; 
 At first blink o' daylicht the hilltaps adornin', 
 
 The muirlan' choirs burst oot wi' rapturous glee ; 
 The braes o' Coltrannie, the braes o' Coltrannie, 
 The bonnie green braes o' Coltrannie for me ! 
 
 There Nature her marvellous beauty discloses 
 In sweet mossy banks an' bricht carpets o' green, 
 
 Bedeck'd wi' the violets, blue-bells, an' primroses, 
 That lustre the woodlands wi' beauteous sheen ; 
 
 The braes o' Coltrannie, the braes o' Coltrannie, 
 They 're bonnie, the braes o' Coltrannie, I ween. 
 
 O sweet are the mem'ries o' innocent childhood, 
 
 When 'mang cheery bairns I roamed thae green braes, 
 
 Or romped through the brake an' the deep sombre 
 
 wildwood 
 Ah ! life then seemed made up o' bricht simmer days; 
 
 The braes o' Coltrannie, the braes o' Coltrannie, 
 I 'm fain noo to lilt a bit sang in their praise.
 
 74 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Cusljtm 
 
 the wastlin win's are blawin', 
 Gentle spring has come again ; 
 See the sunny shoo'ers are fa'in' : 
 I'll awa' to Cushnie Glen ! 
 
 There I wad be careless strayin' 
 By the burnie, doon the den ; 
 
 View the milk-white lammies playin' 
 'Mang the braes o' Cushnie Glen. 
 
 Free to roam owre moor an' mountain, 
 Scale the crag, an' climb the Ben ; 
 
 Fondly muse beside the fountain, 
 Sparklin' pure in Cushnie Glen. 
 
 By my side my winsome dearie 
 Rarer bliss I cudna ken 
 
 the thocht o 't mak's me weary 
 To win aff to Cushnie Glen. 
 
 1 will lea' the dinsome city, 
 
 Turn my back on Lawlan' plain ; 
 Sae I'll end my rhymin' ditty, 
 An' awa' to Cushnie Glen. 
 
 Saft the wastlin' win's are blawin', 
 Gentle spring has come again ; 
 
 See the sunny shoo'ers are fa'in' ! 
 I'm awa' to Cushnie Glen.
 
 The Friend of AIL 75 
 
 t'OSttboi. 
 
 WHEN ye gang by Cushnie Glen 
 Speir ye oot my gallant lover ; 
 Gin he be 'mang Leochel men 
 
 Shootin' paitricks", grouse, an' plover. 
 
 Eh ! but he 's the bonnie chiel 
 Noble broo and sturdy bearin' ! 
 
 Ne'er lat on I lo'e him weel, 
 
 Or that a preen for him I 'm carin'. 
 
 Nane the less he '11 understand 
 
 'At I 'm thinkin 't lang withoot him 
 
 Nae his marrow i' the land, 
 
 'Deed I 'm gaun clean daft aboot him 
 
 Mind him that there 's sooth aboot 
 Ane ye ken was speirin' for him ; 
 
 Say na wha he '11 trew nae doot 
 It 's just the lass 'at does adore him. 
 
 Mind to gang by Cushnie Glen, 
 Speir ye oot my gallant lover, 
 
 'Mang the braes wi' Leochel men, 
 Aifter deer an' grouse an' plover.
 
 76 Heart Echoes. 
 
 ifr 0' Jtorustan. 
 
 TTFHE bloom was on the hawthorn tree, 
 A The wild-rose had but newly blown, 
 When I gaed wast frae auld Dundee 
 To stay a week in Norrieston. 
 
 There as I careless musing strayed 
 By wimplin' stream an' floo'ery loan, 
 
 I chanced to meet a pretty maid 
 The winsome maid o' Norrieston. 
 
 'Mang a' the lasses I hae seen 
 'Tween Callander an' Kilmaron ; 
 
 There's nane cud match this bonnie queen- 
 The lovely maid o' Norrieston. 
 
 Up gaed the merry lark sae hie, 
 An' this I gathered frae his tone 
 
 " Ye 're come, my lad, frae auld Dundee 
 To woo the maid o' Norrieston." 
 
 I twined a wild-rose in her hair, 
 
 Her love-licht glances on me shone ; 
 
 I strained her to my bosom there 
 The gentle maid o' Norrieston. 
 
 Gie war'ly fouk their gowd an' land, 
 An' a' they set their minds upon ; 
 
 My treasures are the hert an' hand 
 O' the sweet maid o' Norrieston.
 
 The Friend of AIL 77 
 
 The thrush pipes on the hawthorn tree, 
 
 An' this I gaither frae his tone, 
 " Just tak' the lassie to Dundee 
 
 Ye've won the maid o' Norrieston." 
 
 Jftaite Wija i>Ij0n> in i\\t lan&irmt 
 fan * 
 
 BONNIE 's the heather on Formal hill 
 When waves the ripe corn aroun' Corrielea ! 
 'Twas there I first saw bonnie Maggie Cargill, 
 The maiden wha shore in the bandwin wi' me 
 A weel-faured young maiden, 
 A winsome young maiden, 
 The maiden wha shore in the bandwin wi' me. 
 
 An' O, but the lassie was gentle and lo'esome ! 
 I ne'er will forget the love-glance o' her e'e ; 
 
 * Mr Ford has the following explanatory note to the song : 
 1 ' The days of ' band wins ' passed with the extinction of the 
 ' hewk ' as the universal implement in harvest work, and the 
 introduction of the swing scythe, so speedily superseded by the 
 reaping machine, and many persons even in country places will 
 ere long not be able to tell what a ' bandwin ' was. In the days 
 when the harvest fields were wholly cleared by the reaping- 
 hook, and that not so very long ago, one person, male or female, 
 was delegated to bind and set in stooks the sheaves shorn by a 
 certain number of shearers, more or less according to the
 
 78 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Her lang raven locks flowin' roun' her white bosom, 
 A Ruth 'raang the reapers seemed Maggie to me 
 
 A dark-eyed young maiden, 
 
 A lovely young maiden, 
 The maiden wha shore in the bandwin wi' me. 
 
 Her mien i' the cornfield was gracefu' an' queenly, 
 
 Tho' lowly her kindred aroun' Corrielea ; 
 Native beauty an' grace shone aroun' her serenely ; 
 She was peerless wha shore in the bandwin wi' me 
 An artless young maiden, 
 A matchless young maiden, 
 The maiden wha shore in the bandwin wi' me. 
 
 In hairst-time we twa shore the same rig thegither ; 
 
 At high-twal we rested aneath the same tree ; 
 At e'en fondly pairted the ane frae the ither 
 
 Near her ain mither's cot richt abune Corrielea 
 A loving young maiden, 
 A guileless young maiden, 
 The maiden wha shore in the bandwin wi' me. 
 
 deftness of the operators and the quality of the crop, and each 
 set so appointed formed a ' bandwin.' Universal as the custom 
 was, and commonly as the word has been used to indicate the 
 order of harvest work described, Mr Robertson is the first, so 
 far as I have seen, to celebrate it in song. For this reason, as 
 well as for its inherent excellence, our wish is that the song will 
 become popular, and certainly the beautiful and appropriate 
 music which has been composed for it by our talented friend Mr 
 Henry Dryerre, of Blairgowrie, should materially contribute to 
 this end."
 
 The Friend of AIL 79 
 
 But ah, cruel Fate ! when last autumn had gane, 
 
 An' winter storms raged roun' the hills o' Glenshee, 
 The ill-starred young lassie gaed forth her lea lane ; 
 Her ewie had strayed far ayont Corrielea 
 A tender young maiden, 
 A kind-hearted maiden, 
 The maiden wha shore in the band win wi' me. 
 
 We scoured hill an' dale till the gloamin', syne hurried 
 
 A search in the glen as far up as Glenshee, 
 An' there in a snaw-wreath the lassie lay buried 
 Ah, lifeless the maid wha my bride was to be ! 
 Wae 's me for the maiden ! 
 My loved an' lost maiden ! 
 The maiden wha shore in the bandwin wi' me. 
 
 Ceased the storm, an' thro' clud-rif bs the munelicht fell 
 
 streaming 
 
 On her face O I'll mind o 't whaure'er I shall be ; 
 An' I cudna hae tauld was I wauken or drearain' 
 
 When they bore my deid maid owre the snaw-covered 
 
 lea; 
 
 Nae a tear for my maiden, 
 Nor a sob for my maiden : 
 But my heart bruik, an' oh, hoo I wished I micht dee ! 
 
 In Ochterga'en kirkyard, all under the willow, 
 She lies wha was sweeter than life unto me ;
 
 80 Heart Echoes. 
 
 Sae I will awa' owre the deep ragin' billow, 
 For Maggie Cargill never mair I shall see ! 
 
 Alas ! the dear maiden ! 
 
 Alack ! the sweet maiden ! 
 The maiden wha shore in the band win wi' me. 
 
 Frae scenes o' my youth nae mair joy can I borrow, 
 
 Despairin' I wander aroun' Corrielea ; 
 On a far foreign strand I maun bide a hert-sorrow 
 For the maiden wha shore in the bandwin wi' me. 
 Then adieu to the maiden, 
 My fondly loved maiden ! 
 And adieu to the loved scenes aroun' Corrielea ! 
 
 (fedsior ! 
 
 FORLORN upon life's troubled sea, 
 No earthly friend to succour thee ; 
 Yet guardian angels hover near, 
 A heavenly voice falls on the ear 
 Excelsior ! 
 
 When by Privation sorely pressed, 
 Till Hope expires within the breast, 
 And grim Despair would urge to sin, 
 O list the gentle voice within 
 Excelsior !
 
 The Friend of AIL 81 
 
 Where Pleasure spreads th' enticing snare, 
 For hapless souls all unaware ; 
 When Vice would lure from Virtue's road, 
 Take up the word and trust in God 
 Excelsior ! 
 
 When baffled in th' unequal strife 
 'Gainst sin and wrong which crush thy life, 
 Or faltering in the heavenly race, 
 The word anew thy strength shall brace 
 Excelsior ! 
 
 Assailed by foes on every hand, 
 Still trust in God and firmly stand, 
 Nor yield thee to the Tempter's sway, 
 But shout the word and cleave thy way 
 Excelsior ! 
 
 Though black the heavens seem overhead, 
 And tempests thick around thee spread, 
 Yet faith shall pierce the darkest sky, 
 While through the rift thou 'It hear the cry 
 Excelsior ! 
 
 And when at last thy race is run, 
 The battle fought, the victory won ; 
 To higher spheres thy soul shall wing 
 Its flight, while guardian angels sing 
 Excelsior !
 
 jbatex.
 
 Jiotes.
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 OAYLORD 
 
 PRINTED IN U
 
 A 000 701 551 4