Volume Vi Part 13 (1/2)

KATIE BLAIR.[8]

I 've met wi' mony maidens fair In kintras far awa, I 've met wi' mony here at hame, Baith bonny dames an' braw; But nane e'er had the power to charm My love into a snare Till ance I saw the witchin' e'e An' smile o' Katie Blair.

She wons by Kelvin's bonnie banks, Whar' thick the greenwoods grow, Whar' waters loupin' drouk the leaves While merrily they row.

They drouk the lily an' the rose, An' mony flowerets fair, Yet they ne'er kiss a flower sae sweet As winsome Katie Blair.

She is a queen owre a' the flowers O' garden an' o' lea-- Her ae sweet smile mair cheering is Than a' their balms to me.

As licht to morn she's a' to me, My bosom's only care; An' worthy o' the truest love Is winsome Katie Blair.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] Printed from the Author's MS.

DAVID TAYLOR.

David Taylor was born, in April 1817, in the parish of Dollar, and county of Clackmannan. In early life his parents, having removed to the village of St Ninians, near Stirling, he was there apprenticed to a tartan manufacturer. He has continued to reside at St Ninians, and has been chiefly employed as a tartan weaver. He has written numerous poems and lyrics, and composed music to some of the more popular songs.

Latterly he has occupied himself as a teacher of vocal music.

MY AIN GUDEMAN.

O dear, dear to me Is my ain gudeman, For kindly, frank, an' free Is my ain gudeman.

An' though thretty years ha'e fled, An' five sin' we were wed, Nae bitter words I 've had Wi' my ain gudeman.

I 've had seven bonnie bairns To my ain gudeman, An' I 've nursed them i' their turns For my ain gudeman; An' ane did early dee, But the lave frae skaith are free, An' a blessin' they 're to me An' my ain gudeman.

I cheerie clamb the hill Wi' my ain gudeman; An', if it 's Heaven's will, Wi' my ain gudeman, In life's calm afternoon, I wad toddle cannie doun, Syne at the foot sleep soun'

Wi' my ain gudeman.

ROBERT CATHCART.

Robert Cathcart was born in 1817, and follows the occupation of a weaver in Paisley. Besides a number of fugitive pieces of some merit, he published, in 1842, a small collection of verses ent.i.tled, ”The Early Blossom.”

MARY

Sweet 's the gloamin's dusky gloom, Spreadin' owre the lea, Mary; Sweeter far thy love in bloom, Whilk blaws alane for me, Mary.

When the woods in silence sleep, And is hid in dusk the steep, When the flowers in sorrow weep I 'll sigh and smile wi' thee, Mary.