Volume Ii Part 36 (2/2)

[114] Mr Train published, in 1806, a small volume, ent.i.tled ”Poetical Reveries.”

[115] Sir Walter Scott was convinced of the accuracy of the statement, regarding the extraordinary connexion between the Wellesley and Bonaparte families, and deferred publis.h.i.+ng it only to avoid giving offence to his intimate friend, the Duke of Wellington.

MY DOGGIE.

AIR--_”There 's cauld kail in Aberdeen.”_

The neighbours a' they wonder how I am sae ta'en wi' Maggie, But ah! they little ken, I trow, How kind she 's to my doggie.

Yestreen as we linked o'er the lea, To meet her in the gloamin'; She fondly on my Bawtie cried, Whene'er she saw us comin'.

But was the tyke not e'en as kind, Though fast she beck'd to pat him; He louped up and slaked her cheek, Afore she could win at him.

But save us, sirs, when I gaed in, To lean me on the settle, Atween my Bawtie and the cat There rose an awfu' battle.

An' though that Maggie saw him lay His lugs in bawthron's coggie, She wi' the besom lounged poor chit, And syne she clapp'd my doggie.

Sae weel do I this kindness feel, Though Mag she isna bonnie, An' though she 's f.e.c.kly twice my age, I lo'e her best of ony.

May not this simple ditty show, How oft affection catches, And from what silly sources, too, Proceed unseemly matches; An' eke the lover he may see, Albeit his joe seem saucy, If she is kind unto his dog, He 'll win at length the la.s.sie.

BLOOMING JESSIE.

On this unfrequented plain, What can gar thee sigh alane, Bonnie blue-eyed la.s.sie?

Is thy mammy dead and gane, Or thy loving Jamie slain?

Wed anither, mak nae main, Bonnie, blooming Jessie.

Though I sob and sigh alane, I was never wed to ane, Quo' the blue-eyed la.s.sie.

But if loving Jamie's slain, Farewell pleasure, welcome pain, A' the joy wi' him is gane O' poor hapless Jessie.

Ere he cross'd the raging sea, Was he ever true to thee, Bonnie, blooming Jessie?

Was he ever frank and free?

Swore he constant aye to be?

Did he on the roseate lea Ca' thee blooming Jessie?

Ere he cross'd the raging sea, Aft he on the dewy lea, Ca'd me blue-eyed la.s.sie.

Weel I mind his words to me, Were, if he abroad should die, His last throb and sigh should be, Bonnie, blooming Jessie.

Far frae hame, and far frae thee, I saw loving Jamie die, Bonnie blue-eyed la.s.sie.

Fast a cannon ball did flee, Laid him stretch'd upo' the lea, Soon in death he closed his e'e, Crying, ”Blooming Jessie.”

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