The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume Iii Part 6

AIR--_"Up amang the Cliffy Rocks."_

How sweet are Leven's silver streams, Around her banks the wild flowers blooming; On every bush the warblers vie, In strains of bosom-soothing joy.

But Leven's banks that bloom sae bra, And Leven's streams that glide sae saucy, Sic joy an' beauty couldna shaw, An 't were not for my darling la.s.sie; Her presence fills them a' wi' pride, The bonnie la.s.s o' Levenside.

When sober eve begins her reign, The little birds to cease their singing, The flowers their beauty to renew, Their bosoms bathe in diamond dew; When far behind the Lomonds high, The wheels of day are downwards rowing, And a' the western closing sky Wi' varied tints of glory lowing, 'Tis then my eager steps I guide, To meet the la.s.s o' Levenside.

The solemn sweetness nature spreads, The kindly hour to bliss inviting, Within our happy bosoms move, The softest sigh o' purest love; Reclined upon the velvet gra.s.s, Beneath the balmy, birken blossom, What words could a' my joy express, When clasped to her beating bosom; How swells my heart with rapture's tide, When wi' the la.s.s o' Levenside.

She never saw the splendid ball, She never blazed in courtly grandeur, But like her native lily's bloom, She cheerfu' gilds her humble home; The pert reply, the modish air, To soothe the soul were never granted, When modest sense and love are there, The guise o' art may well be wanted; O Fate! gi'e me to be my bride The bonnie la.s.s o' Levenside.

JAMES AFFLECK.

The "Posthumous Poetical Works" of James Affleck, tailor in Biggar, with a memoir of his life by his son, were published at Edinburgh in 1836.

Affleck was born in the village of Drummelzier, in Peebless.h.i.+re, on the 8th September 1776. His education was scanty; and after some years'

occupation as a cowherd, he was apprenticed to a tailor in his native village. He afterwards prosecuted his trade in the parish of Crawfordjohn, and in the town of Ayr. In 1793, he established himself as master tailor in Biggar. Fond of society, he joined the district lodge of freemasons, and became a leading member of that fraternity. He composed verses for the entertainment of his friends, which he was induced to give to the world in two separate publications. He possessed considerable poetical talent, but his compositions are generally marked by the absence of refinement. The song selected for the present work is the most happy effort in his posthumous volume. His death took place at Biggar, on the 8th September 1835.

HOW BLEST WERE THE DAYS!

How blest were the days o' langsyne when a laddie!

Alane by a bush wi' my dog and my plaidie; Nae fop was sae happy, though dress'd e'er sae gaudy, Sae sweet were the days o' langsyne when a laddie.

Whiles croonin' my sonnet amang the whin bushes, Whiles whistling wi' glee as I pou'd the green rashes; The whim o' the moment kept me aye frae sorrow, What I wanted at night was in prospect to-morrow.

The nest o' a lintie I fondly explored, And plundering bykes was the game I adored; My pleasures did vary, as I was unsteady, Yet I always found something that pleased when a laddie.

The boy with great pleasure the b.u.t.terfly chases; When manhood approaches, the maid he embraces; But view him at once baith the husband and daddie, He fondly looks back to the joys o' a laddie.

When childhood was over my prospects were greater, I tried to be happy, but, alas, foolish creature!

The sports of my youth were my sweetest employment-- Much sweetness in prospect embitters enjoyment.

But now I 'm grown auld, and wi' cares I 'm perplex'd, How numerous the woes are by which I am vex'd!

I 'm tentin' the kye wi' my dog, staff, and plaidie; How changed are the days since langsyne when a laddie!

JAMES STIRRAT.

James Stirrat was born in the village of Dalry, Ayrs.h.i.+re, on the 28th March 1781. His father was owner of several houses in the place, and was employed in business as a haberdasher. Young Stirrat was educated at the village school; in his 17th year, he composed verses which afforded some indication of power. Of a delicate const.i.tution, he accepted the easy appointment of village postmaster. He died in March 1843, in his sixty-second year. Stirrat wrote much poetry, but never ventured on a publication. Several of his songs appeared at intervals in the public journals, the "Book of Scottish Song," and the "Contemporaries of Burns." The latter work contains a brief sketch of his life. He left a considerable number of MSS., which are now in the possession of a relative in Ayr. Possessed of a knowledge of music, he excelled in playing many of the national airs on the guitar. His dispositions were social, yet in society he seldom talked; among his a.s.sociates, he frequently expressed his hope of posthumous fame. He was enthusiastic in his admiration of female beauty, but died unmarried.

HENRY.[14]

AIR--_"Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch."_

Can my dearest Henry leave me?

Why, ah! why would he deceive me?

Whence this cold and cruel change, That bids him thus forsake and grieve me?

Can he the hours of love forget, The stolen hours I 'll mind for ever, When down the burn we fondly met, And aften vow'd we ne'er should sever?

Will my Henry then deceive me, Faithless laddie, can he leave me?

Ne'er till now did fancy dream, My dearest laddie sae would grieve me.

And will he then me aye forsake?

Must I for ever, ever lose him?

And can he leave this heart to break, That swells and bursts within my bosom?

Never, Henry, could I leave thee, Never could this heart deceive thee, Why then, laddie, me forsake, And sae wi' cruel absence grieve me?

[14] This song and that following are printed from the original MSS.

MARY.[15]

"In life's gay morn," when hopes beat high, And youthfu' love's endearing tie Gave rapture to the mutual sigh, Within the arms of Mary, My ain dear Mary; Nae joys beneath the vaulted sky, Could equal mine wi' Mary.

The sacred hours like moments flew, Soft transports thrill'd my bosom through, The warl' evanish'd frae my view Within the arms of Mary, My ain dear Mary; Nae gloomy cares my soul e'er knew Within the arms of Mary.

Young fancy spread her visions gay, Love fondly view'd the fair display, Hope shew'd the blissfu' nuptial day, And I was rapt with Mary, My ain dear Mary; The flowers of Eden strew'd the way That led me to my Mary.

But life is now a dreary waste, I lanely wander sair depress'd, For cold and lifeless is that breast Where throbb'd the heart of Mary, My ain dear Mary; She 's gane to seats o' blissfu' rest, And I hae lost my Mary.

[15] This song was set to music by R. A. Smith.

JOHN GRIEVE.

John Grieve, whose name is especially worthy of commemoration as the generous friend of men of genius, was born at Dunfermline on the 12th September 1781. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Walter Grieve, minister of the Cameronian or Reformed Presbyterian church in that place; his mother, Jane Ballantyne, was the daughter of Mr George Ballantyne, tenant at Craig, in the vale of Yarrow. While he was very young, his father retired from the ministerial office, and fixed his residence at the villa of Cacrabank, in Ettrick. After an ordinary education at school, young Grieve became clerk to Mr Virtue, s.h.i.+powner and wood-merchant in Alloa: and, early in 1801, obtained a situation in a bank at Greenock. He soon returned to Alloa, as the partner of his friend Mr Francis Bald, who had succeeded Mr Virtue in his business as a wood-merchant. On the death of Mr Bald, in 1804, he proceeded to Edinburgh to enter into copartners.h.i.+p with Mr Chalmers Izzet, hat-manufacturer on the North Bridge. The firm subsequently a.s.sumed, as a third partner, Mr Henry Scott, a native of Ettrick.