Volume Iii Part 67 (1/2)

Set in the Baltic Sea: And the waves have spread The sandy bed That holds my Love from me.

Unknown

THE FISHER'S WIDOW

The boats go out and the boats come in Under the wintry sky; And the rain and foam are white in the wind, And the white gulls cry.

She sees the sea when the wind is wild Swept by a windy rain; And her heart's a-weary of sea and land As the long days wane.

She sees the torn sails fly in the foam, Broad on the sky-line gray; And the boats go out and the boats come in, But there's one away.

Arthur Symons [1865-

CALLER HERRIN'

Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?

They're bonny fish and halesome farin'; Wha'll buy my caller herrin', New drawn frae the Forth?

When ye were sleepin' on your pillows, Dreamed ye aught o' our puir fellows, Darkling as they faced the billows, A' to fill the woven willows?

Buy my caller herrin', New drawn frae the Forth!

Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?

They're no brought here without brave darin'; Buy my caller herrin', Hauled through wind and rain.

Wha'll buy my caller herrin', New drawn frae the Forth?

Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?

Oh, ye may ca' them vulgar farin'; Wives and mithers, maist despairin', Ca' them lives o' men.

Wha'll buy my caller herrin', New drawn frae the Forth?

When the creel o' herrin' pa.s.ses, Ladies, clad in silks and laces, Gather in their braw pelisses, Cast their heads, and screw their faces.

Wha'll buy my caller herrin', New drawn frae the Forth?

Caller herrin's no got lightly:-- Ye can trip the spring fu' tightlie; Spite o' tauntin', flauntin', flingin', Gow has set you a' a-singin'

Wha'll buy my caller herrin', New drawn frae the Forth?”

Neebor wives! now tent my tellin': When the bonny fish ye're sellin', At ae word be, in ye're dealin'!

Truth will stand, when a' thing's failin', Wha'll buy my caller herrin', New drawn frae the Forth?

Carolina Nairne [1766-1845]

HANNAH BINDING SHOES

Poor lone Hannah, Sitting at the window, binding shoes: Faded, wrinkled, Sitting, st.i.tching, in a mournful muse.