The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume Vi Part 8

Of most retiring disposition, Mr Outram confined his intercourse to a limited circle of friends, by whom he was esteemed for his genial worth and interesting conversation. By the late Lord c.o.c.kburn he was especially beloved. He has left in MS. several interesting songs, which are likely to be published by his executors. His cousin-german, General Sir James Outram, is well known for his military services in India.

CHARGE ON A BOND OF ANNUITY.[7]

AIR--_"Duncan Davidson."_

I gaed to spend a week in Fife, An unco week it proved to be, For there I met a waesome wife, Lamenting her viduity.

Her grief brak' out sae fierce and fell, I thought her heart wad burst the sh.e.l.l; And, I was sae left to mysel, I sell't her an annuity.

The bargain lookit fair eneugh, She just was turned o' saxty-three; I couldna guess'd she 'd prove sae teugh By human ingenuity.

But years have come, and years have gane, And there she 's yet as stieve 's a stane; The auld wife 's growing young again Since she got her annuity.

She 's crined awa to bane an' skin, But that it seems is nought to me; She 's like to live, although she 's in The last stage o' tenuity.

She munches wi' her wizen'd gums, An' stumps about on legs o' thrums, But comes--as sure as Christmas comes-- To ca' for her annuity.

She jokes her joke, an' cracks her crack, As s.p.u.n.kie as a growin' flea; An' there she sits upon my back A livin' perpetuity.

She hurkles by her ingle side, An' toasts an' tans her wrinkled hide; Lord kens how lang she yet may bide To ca' for her annuity.

I read the tables drawn wi' care For an Insurance Company; Her chance o' life was stated there Wi' perfect perspicuity.

But tables here, or tables there, She 's lived ten years beyond her share; An 's like to live a dozen mair To ca' for her annuity.

I gat the loon that drew the deed, We spell'd it ower richt carefully; In vain he yerk'd his souple head To find an ambiguity.

It 's dated, tested, a' complete; The proper stamp, nae word delete; And diligence, as on decreet, May pa.s.s for her annuity.

I thought that grief might gar her quit, Her only son was lost at sea; But aff her wits behuved to flit An' leave her in fatuity.

She threeps, an' threeps he 's livin' yet For a' the tellin' she can get; But catch the doited wife forget To ca' for her annuity.

If there 's a sough o' cholera Or typhus, wha sae gleg as she!

She buys up baths, an' drugs, an' a', In siccan superfluity!

She doesna need--she's fever proof-- The pest walked o'er her very roof; She tauld me sae, and then her loof Held out for her annuity.

Ae day she fell, her arm she brak, A compound fracture as could be; Nae leech the cure wad undertak, Whate'er was the gratuity.

It 's cured! she handles 't like a flail, It does as weel in bits as hale; But I 'm a broken man mysel'

Wi' her and her annuity.

Her broozled flesh and broken banes Are weel as flesh and banes can be, She beats the taeds that live in stanes An' fatten in vacuity!

They die when they 're exposed to air, They canna thole the atmosphere; But her! expose her onywhere, She lives for her annuity.

The water-drap wears out the rock As this eternal jade wears me; I could withstand the single shock, But not the continuity.

It 's pay me here, an' pay me there, An' pay me, pay me evermair; I 'll gang demented wi' despair; I 'm _charged_ for her annuity.

FOOTNOTES:

[7] This facetious composition, in the original form, extends to considerably greater length.

HENRY INGLIS.

Henry Inglis is the son of William Inglis, Esq. of Glaspin, W.S., and was born in Edinburgh on the 6th November 1806. His early years were spent at Middleton, his father's residence in Linlithgows.h.i.+re.

Completing with distinction the usual course of cla.s.sical study at the High School of Edinburgh, he entered the University of that city. At the close of a philosophical curriculum, he devoted himself to legal pursuits, and became a writer to the Signet. In 1851 he published "Marican, and other Poems," in one volume octavo. Another poetical work, ent.i.tled "The Briar of Threave," appeared from his pen in 1855. Mr Inglis is at present engaged with pieces ill.u.s.trative of the history of the Covenant, which may afterwards be offered to the public.

The representative of the old Border family of Inglis of Branxholme, Mr Inglis is great-grandson of the celebrated Colonel Gardiner, who fell on the field of Preston in 1745.

WEEP AWAY.

Weep away, heart, weep away!

Let no muleteer Be afraid To weep; for a brave heart may Lament for a dear, Fickle maid.

The lofty sky weeps in cloud, The earth weeps in dews From its core; The diamond brooks weep aloud, The flowers change the hues Which they wore.

The gra.s.s mourns in the sunbeam, In gums weep the trees And in dye; And if mourn meadow and stream-- Inanimate these-- May not I?

The wood-pigeon mourns his mate, The caged birds bewail Freedom gone; Shall not man mourn over fate?

Dumb sorrow a.s.sail Him alone?

Then weep on, heart, weep away!

Let no muleteer Be afraid To weep; for a brave heart may Lament for a dear, Fickle maid.

JAMES MANSON.

James Manson, one of the conductors of the _Glasgow Herald_, has composed a number of lyrics, some of which have been set to music. Mr Manson was born in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrs.h.i.+re, about the year 1812. He was bred to a laborious handicraft occupation, at which he wrought industriously during a course of years.

OCEAN.

_Set to Music by H. Lambeth._

ON Sh.o.r.e--CALM.