The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume I Part 5

A SONG ON THE TIMES.

TUNE--_"Broom of the Cowdenknows."_

I.

When I began the world first, It was not as 'tis now; For all was plain and simple then, And friends were kind and true: Oh, the times, the weary, weary times!

The times that I now see; I think the world 's all gone wrong, From what it used to be.

II.

There were not then high capering heads, p.r.i.c.k'd up from ear to ear; And cloaks and caps were rarities, For gentle folks to wear: Oh, the times, the weary, weary times! &c.

III.

There 's not an upstart mushroom now, But what sets up for taste; And not a la.s.s in all the land, But must be lady-dress'd: Oh, the times, the weary, weary times! &c.

IV.

Our young men married then for love, So did our la.s.ses too; And children loved their parents dear, As children ought to do: Oh, the times, the weary, weary times! &c.

V.

For oh, the times are sadly changed-- A heavy change indeed!

For truth and friends.h.i.+p are no more, And honesty is fled: Oh, the times, the weary, weary times! &c.

VI.

There 's nothing now prevails but pride, Among both high and low; And strife, and greed, and vanity, Is all that 's minded now: Oh, the times, the weary, weary times! &c.

VII.

When I look through the world wide, How times and fas.h.i.+ons go, It draws the tears from both my eyes, And fills my heart with woe: Oh, the times, the weary, weary times!

The times that I now see; I wish the world were at an end, For it will not mend for me!

WILLIAM CAMERON.

William Cameron, minister of Kirknewton, in the county of Edinburgh, was educated in Marischal College, Aberdeen, where he was a pupil of Dr Beattie, "who ever after entertained for him much esteem." A letter, addressed to him by this eminent professor, in 1774, has been published by Sir William Forbes;[3] and his name is introduced at the beginning of Dr Beattie's "Letter to the Rev. Hugh Blair, D.D., on the Improvement of Psalmody in Scotland. 1778, 8vo:"--"The message you lately sent me, by my friend Mr Cameron, has determined me to give you my thoughts at some length upon the subject of it."

He died in his manse, on the 17th of November 1811, in the 60th year of his age, and the 26th year of his ministry. He was a considerable writer of verses, and his compositions are generally of a respectable order. He was the author of a "Collection of Poems," printed at Edinburgh in 1790, in a duodecimo volume; and in 1781, along with the celebrated John Logan and Dr Morrison, minister of Canisbay, he contributed towards the formation of a collection of Paraphrases from Scripture, which, being approved of by the General a.s.sembly, are still used in public wors.h.i.+p in the Church of Scotland. A posthumous volume of verses by Mr Cameron, ent.i.tled "Poems on Several Occasions," was published by subscription in 1813--8vo, pp. 132. The following song, which was composed by Mr Cameron, on the restoration of the forfeited estates by Act of Parliament, in 1784, is copied from Johnson's "Musical Museum." It affords a very favourable specimen of the author's poetical talents.

[3] Forbes's "Life of Beattie," vol. i. p. 375.

AS O'ER THE HIGHLAND HILLS I HIED.

TUNE--_"As I came in by Auchindoun."_

I.

As o'er the Highland hills I hied, The Camerons in array I spied; Lochiel's proud standard waving wide, In all its ancient glory.

The martial pipe loud pierced the sky, The bard arose, resounding high Their valour, faith, and loyalty, That s.h.i.+ne in Scottish story.

No more the trumpet calls to arms, Awaking battle's fierce alarms, But every hero's bosom warms With songs of exultation.

While brave Lochiel at length regains, Through toils of war, his native plains, And, won by glorious wounds, attains His high paternal station.

Let now the voice of joy prevail, And echo wide from hill to vale; Ye warlike clans, arise and hail Your laurell'd chiefs returning.

O'er every mountain, every isle, Let peace in all her l.u.s.tre smile, And discord ne'er her day defile With sullen shades of mourning.

M'Leod, M'Donald, join the strain, M'Pherson, Fraser, and M'Lean; Through all your bounds let gladness reign, Both prince and patriot praising; Whose generous bounty richly pours The streams of plenty round your sh.o.r.es; To Scotia's hills their pride restores, Her faded honours raising.

Let all the joyous banquet share, Nor e'er let Gothic grandeur dare, With scowling brow, to overbear, A va.s.sal's right invading.

Let Freedom's conscious sons disdain To crowd his fawning, timid train, Nor even own his haughty reign, Their dignity degrading.

Ye northern chiefs, whose rage unbroke Has still repell'd the tyrant's shock; Who ne'er have bow'd beneath his yoke, With servile base prostration;-- Let each now train his trusty band, 'Gainst foreign foes alone to stand, With undivided heart and hand, For Freedom, King, and Nation.

MRS JOHN HUNTER.

Anne Home was born in the year 1742. She was the eldest daughter of Robert Home, of Greenlaw, in Berwicks.h.i.+re, surgeon of Burgoyne's Regiment of Light Horse, and afterwards physician in Savoy. By contracting an early marriage, in which affection overcame more prudential considerations, both her parents gave offence to their relations, who refused to render them pecuniary a.s.sistance. Her father, though connected with many families of rank, and himself the son of a landowner, was consequently obliged to depend, in the early part of his career, on his professional exertions for the support of his family. His circ.u.mstances appear subsequently to have been more favourable. In July 1771, Miss Home became the wife of John Hunter, the distinguished anatomist, to whom she bore two children. She afforded evidence of her early poetical talent, by composing, before she had completed her twenty-third year, the song beginning, "Adieu! ye streams that smoothly glide." This appeared in the _Lark_, an Edinburgh periodical, in the year 1765. In 1802, she published a collection of her poems, in an octavo volume, which she inscribed to her son, John Banks Hunter.

During the lifetime of her distinguished husband, Mrs Hunter was in the habit of receiving at her table, and sharing in the conversation of, the chief literary persons of her time. Her evening _conversazioni_ were frequented by many of the more learned, as well as fas.h.i.+onable persons in the metropolis. On the death of her husband, which took place in 1793, she sought greater privacy, though she still continued to reside in London. By those who were admitted to her intimacy, she was not more respected for her superior talents and intelligence, than held in esteem for her unaffected simplicity of manners. She was the life of her social parties, sustaining the happiness of the hour by her elegant conversation, and encouraging the diffident by her approbation. Amiable in disposition, she was possessed of a beautiful countenance and a handsome person. She wrote verses with facility, but she sought no distinction as a poet, preferring to be regarded as a good housewife and an agreeable member of society. In her latter years, she obtained amus.e.m.e.nt in resuming the song-writing habits of her youth, and in corresponding with her more intimate friends. She likewise derived pleasure in the cultivation of music: she played with skill, and sung with singular grace.

Mrs Hunter died at London, on the 7th January 1821, after a lingering illness. Several of her lyrics had for some years appeared in the collections of national poetry. Those selected for the present work have long maintained a wide popularity. The songs evince a delicacy of thought, combined with a force and sweetness of expression.

THE INDIAN DEATH-SONG.