An' the serjeant ne'er speaks now o' war, fame, an' glory,
An' the droll drouthy shoemaker, Sandy M'Rae,
Never sings a queer sang now, or tells a queer story,
For they've a' felt the power o' the witch on the brae.
The thin student, puir chiel! ower the linn lapp yestreen,
An' wad sure ha'e been drown'd, but by gude luck was seen,
An' he says that the witch drove him thus to despair,
For she took his last poem to paper her hair.
Like the rest, I was put in a gay eerie swither,
I had nae peace at hame, an' ne'er kent whare to gae;
But, to end baith my sang an' her witchcraft thegither,
I will soon be the warlock that wons on the brae.
My ain Fireside.
[Elizabeth Hamilton, authoress of "The Cottagers of Glenturnie."]
I ha'e seen great anes, and sat in great ha's,
Mang lords and fine ladies a' cover'd wi' braws;
At feasts made for princes, wi' princes I've been,
Whare the grand shine o' splendour has dazzled my een;
But a sight sae delightfu', I trow, I ne'er spied,
As the bonnie blythe blink o' mine ain fireside.
My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
O cheery's the blink o' mine ain fireside.
My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
O there's nought to compare wi' ane's ain fireside.
Ance mair, gude be thanket, round my ain heartsome ingle,
Wi' the friends o' my youth I cordially mingle;
Nae forms to compel me to seem wae or glad,
I may laugh when I'm merry, and sigh when I'm sad.
Nae falsehood to dread, and nae malice to fear,
But truth to delight me, and friendship to cheer;
Of a' roads to happiness ever were tried,
There's nane half so sure as ane's ain fireside.
My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
O there's nought to compare wi' ane's ain fireside.
When I draw in my stool on my cosey hearthstane,
My heart loups sae light I scarce ken't for my ain;
Care's down on the wind, it is clean out o' sight,
Past troubles they seem but as dreams of the night.
I hear but kend voices, kend faces I see,
And mark saft affection glent fond frae ilk e'e;
Nae fleetchings o' flattery, nae boastings of pride,
'Tis heart speaks to heart at ane's ain fireside.
My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
O there's nought to compare wi' ane's ain fireside.
