Volume Vi Part 18 (1/2)

The maidens are weeping in rocky Glencoe, From warriors' eyelids the bitter drops flow; They come--but, oh! where is their chieftain so dear?

The yellow-haired laddie is low on the bier.

The maidens are wailing in rocky Glencoe-- There 's gloom in the valley, at sunrise 'twill go; But no sun can the gloom from their hearts chase away-- The yellow-haired laddie lies cauld in the clay.

TELL ME, DEAR.

AIR--_”Loudon's bonnie Woods and Braes.”_

Tell me dear! in mercy speak, Has Heaven heard my prayer, la.s.sie?

Faint the rose is on thy cheek, But still the rose is there, la.s.sie!

Away, away each dark foreboding, Heavy days with anguish clouding, Youthfu' love in sorrow shrouding, Heaven could ne'er allow, la.s.sie!

Day and night I've tended thee, Watching, love, thy changing e'e; Dearest gift that Heaven could gi'e, Say thou 'rt happy now, la.s.sie!

Willie, lay thy cheek to mine-- Kiss me, oh! my ain laddie!

Never mair may lip o' thine Press where it hath lain, laddie!

Hark! I hear the angels calling, Heavenly strains are round me falling, But the stroke--thy soul appalling-- 'Tis my only pain, laddie!

Yet the love I bear to thee Shall follow where I soon maun be; I 'll tell how gude thou wert to me-- We part to meet again, laddie!

Lay thine arm beneath my head-- Grieve na sae for me, laddie!

I'll thole the doom that lays me dead, But no a tear frae thee, laddie!

Aft where yon dark tree is spreading, When the sun's last beam is shedding, Where no earthly foot is treading, By my grave thou 'lt be, laddie!

Though my sleep be wi' the dead, Frae on high my soul shall speed, And hover nightly round thy head, Although thou wilt na see, laddie.

WILLIAM CADENHEAD.

William Cadenhead was born at Aberdeen on the 6th April 1819. With a limited education at school, he was put to employment in a factory in his ninth year. His leisure hours were devoted to mental culture, and ramblings in the country. The perusal of Beattie's _Minstrel_ inspired him with the love of poetry, and at an early age his compositions in verse were admitted in the Poet's Corner of the _Aberdeen Herald_. In 1819 he published a small poetical work, ent.i.tled ”The Prophecy,” which, affording decided evidence of power, established his local reputation.

Having contributed verses for some years to several periodicals and the local journals, he published a collection of these in 1853, with the t.i.tle, ”Flights of Fancy, and Lays of Bon-Accord.” ”The New Book of Bon-Accord,” a guide-book to his native town on an original plan, appeared from his pen in 1856. For three years he has held a comfortable and congenial appointment as confidential clerk to a merchant in his native city. He continues to contribute verses to the periodicals.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE BIRDS ARE SINGING?

Do you know what the birds are singing?

Can you tell their sweet refrains, When the green arch'd woods are ringing With a thousand swelling strains?

To the sad they sing of sadness, To the blythe, of mirth and glee, And to me, in my fond love's gladness, They sing alone of thee!

They sing alone of thee, love, Of thee, through the whole day long, And each its own dear charm extols, And each with its own sweet song!

Do you know what the soft winds whisper When they sigh through blooming trees-- When each bough is a choral lisper Of the woodland melodies?