Volume V Part 28 (1/2)
THE PRIDE O' THE GLEN.
Oh, bonnie 's the lily that blooms in the valley, And fair is the cherry that grows on the tree; The primrose smiles sweet as it welcomes the simmer, And modest 's the wee gowan's love-talking e'e; Mair dear to my heart is that lown cosy dingle, Whar late i' the gloamin', by the lanely ”Ha' den,”
I met with the fairest ere bounded in beauty, By the banks o' the Endrick, the pride o' the glen.
She 's pure as the spring cloud that smiles in the welkin, An blithe as the lambkin that sports on the lea; Her heart is a fount rinnin' owre wi' affection, And a warld o' feeling is the love o' her e'e.
The prince may be proud o' his vast h.o.a.rded treasures, The heir o' his grandeur and high pedigree; They kenna the happiness dwalt in my bosom, When alane wi' the angel o' luve and o' le.
I 've seen the day dawn in a shower-drappin' goud, The gra.s.s spread wi' dew, like a wide siller sea; The clouds s.h.i.+nin' bricht in a deep amber licht, And the earth blus.h.i.+n' back to the glad lift on hie.
I 've dream'd o' a palace wi' gem-spangled ha's, And proud wa's a' glitterin' in rich diamond sheen Wi' towers s.h.i.+nin' fair, through the rose-tinted air, And domes o' rare pearls and rubies atween.
I 've sat in a garden, 'mid earth's gayest flowers, A' gaudily shawin' their beauteous dyes, And breathin' in calm the air's fragrant balm, Like angels asleep on the plains o' the skies; Yet the garden, and palace, and day's rosy dawning, Though in bless'd morning dreams they should aft come again, Can ne'er be sae sweet as the bonnie young la.s.sie, That bloom'd by the Endrick, the pride of the glen.
The exile, in sleep, haunts the land o' his fathers, The captive's ae dream is his hour to be free; The weary heart langs for the morning rays comin', The oppress'd, for his sabbath o' sweet liberty.
But my life's only hope, my heart's only prayer, Is the day that I 'll ca' the young la.s.sie my ain; Though a' should forsake me, wi' her I 'll be happy, On the banks o' the Endrick, the pride o' the glen.
MARY.
The winter's cauld and cheerless blast May rob the f.e.c.kless tree, Mary, And lay the young flowers in the dust, Whar' ance they bloom'd in glee, Mary.
It canna chill my bosom's hopes-- It canna alter thee, Mary; The summer o' thy winsome face Is aye the same to me, Mary.
The gloom o' life, its cruel strife, May wear me fast awa', Mary; An' lea'e me like a cauld, cauld corpse, Amang the drifting snaw, Mary.
Yet 'mid the drift, wert thou but nigh, I 'd fauld my weary e'e, Mary; And deem the wild and raging storm, A laverock's sang o' glee, Mary.
My heart can lie in ruin's dust, And fortune's winter dree, Mary; While o'er it s.h.i.+nes the diamond ray, That glances frae thine e'e, Mary.
The rending pangs and waes o' life, The dreary din o' care, Mary, I 'll welcome, gin they lea'e but thee, My lanely lot to share, Mary.
As o'er yon hill the evening star Is wilin' day awa', Mary; Sae sweet and fair art thou to me, At life's sad gloamin' fa', Mary.
It gars me greet wi' vera joy, Whene'er I think on thee, Mary, That sic a heart sae true as thine, Should e'er ha'e cared for me, Mary.
JAMES BALLANTINE.
James Ballantine, one of the most successful of living Scottish song writers, was born in 1808 at the West Port of Edinburgh. Of this locality, now considerably changed in its character, but still endeared to him by the a.s.sociations of his boyhood, he has given a graphic description in a poem, in which he records some of the cherished recollections of the days when amid its ”howffs,” and ”laigh”
half-doored shops he ”gat schulin' and sport.” He lost his father, who was a brewer, when he was only ten years old, and, being the youngest of the family, which consisted of three daughters and himself, his early training devolved upon his mother, who contrived to obtain for her children the advantage of an ordinary education. James Ballantine must, however, be considered as a self-taught man. Beyond the training which he received in early life, he owes his present position to his own indefatigable exertions.
By his father's death, the poet was necessitated, while yet a mere boy, to exert himself for his own support and the a.s.sistance of the family.