Volume Vi Part 5 (2/2)
In spring the farmer ploughs the field That yet will wave wi' yellow corn, In spring the birdie bigs its bield In foggy bank or budding thorn; The burn and brae, the hill and dell, A song of hope are heard to sing, And summer, autumn, winter, tell, Wi' joy or grief, the work o' spring.
Now, youth 's the spring-time o' your life, When seed is sown wi' care and toil, And hopes are high, and fears are rife, Lest weeds should rise the braird to spoil.
I 've sown the seed, my bairnies dear, By precept and example baith, And may the hand that guides us here Preserve it frae the spoiler's skaith!
But soon the time may come when you Shall miss a mother's tender care, A sinfu' world to wander through, Wi' a' its stormy strife to share; Then mind my words, whare'er ye gang, Let fortune smile or thrawart be, Ne'er let the tempter lead ye wrang-- If sae ye live, ye'll happy dee.
THE SCARLET ROSE-BUSH.
AIR--_”There grows a bonnie brier bush.”_
Come see my scarlet rose-bush My father gied to me, That's growing in our window-sill Sae fresh and bonnilie; I wadna gie my rose-bush For a' the flowers I see, Nor for a pouchfu' o' red gowd, Sae dear it is to me.
I set it in the best o' mould Ta'en frae the moudie's hill, And covered a' the yird wi' moss I gather'd on the hill; I saw the blue-bell blooming, And the gowan wat wi' dew, But my heart was on my rose-bush set, I left them where they grew.
I water 't ilka morning Wi' meikle pride and care, And no a wither'd leaf I leave Upon its branches fair; Twa sprouts are rising frae the root, And four are on the stem, Three rosebuds and six roses blawn-- 'Tis just a perfect gem!
Come, see my bonnie, blooming bush My father gied to me, Wi' roses to the very top, And branches like a tree.
It grows upon our window-sill, I watch it tentilie; O! I wadna gie my dear rose-bush For a' the flowers I see.
HENRY GLa.s.sFORD BELL.
Henry Gla.s.sford Bell is the son of James Bell, Esq., advocate. His mother was the daughter of the Rev. John Hamilton, minister of Cathcart.
He was born at Glasgow, but his early life was spent chiefly in Edinburgh, whither his parents removed in his sixth year. Having studied at the University of Edinburgh, he pa.s.sed advocate in 1832. Prior to his commencing the study of law, he much devoted himself to literary pursuits. In 1828 he published, in ”Constable's Miscellany,” a ”Life of Mary, Queen of Scots,” in two volumes, of which work several editions have since appeared. About the same time he established the _Edinburgh Literary Journal_, which he conducted for several years with much acceptance to the public. His other publications are, ”My Old Portfolio,” a volume of miscellaneous prose and verse, and ”Summer and Winter Hours,” a volume of lyric poems and songs. Both these works are out of print. Mr Bell has contributed to the princ.i.p.al periodicals, and a.s.sociated with the leading literary men of his time. Since 1839 he has resided in Glasgow, holding the appointment of a Sheriff-subst.i.tute of Lanarks.h.i.+re.
MY LIFE IS ONE LONG THOUGHT OF THEE.
Say wilt thou, Leila, when alone, Remember days of bliss gone by?
Wilt thou, beside thy native Rhone, E'er for our distant streamlets sigh?
Beneath thy own glad sun and sky, Ah! Leila, wilt thou think of me?
She blush'd, and murmur'd in reply, ”My life is one long thought of thee.”
Sweet girl! I would not have it so; My destiny must not be thine, For wildly as the wild waves flow, Will pa.s.s this fleeting life of mine.
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