Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/417

The poisoned shafts that malice throws
 O'er harmless pastime slide,
While honest worth an' cheerin' mirth
 Sit round the fireside.
   Our ain fireside, my friends,
    Our ain fireside;
   The warmest glow o' friendship's flame
    Shall heat the fireside.

On human worth by length of purse
 Let worldly slaves decide;
The heart to share the world's care
 Aye heats the fireside.
   Our ain fireside, my friends,
    Our ain fireside;
   The sterling value o' the heart
    Aye gilds the fireside.

Through rocks and sands to distant lands
 The sailor wanders wide,
In hopes to shield his crazy eild
 By couthy fireside.
   The couthy fireside, my friends,
    The couthy fireside;
   Heaven send the lyart pow o' age
    A couthy fireside.

'Tis Heaven that nerves the soldier's arm
 The battle's heat to bide;
He boldly dares the fiercest foe
 To shield his fireside.
   His ain fireside, my friends,
    His country's fireside;
   Would ye but warm a coward's heart?—
    Insult his fireside.

Gi'e luxury her painted domes,
 Her palaces gi'e pride;
But be my lot a snug warm cot
 And canty fireside.
   A canty fireside, my friends,
    A canty fireside;
   Be aye my lot a snug warm cot
    And canty fireside.

When bairnies brattlin round our knees
 On chairs and stoolies ride,
What joy heaves up a parent's heart
 To see his fireside.