The Book of Scottish Song/My bonnie Wife

My bonnie Wife.

[W. Millar.— Music by P. M'Leod.]

Oh, weel I mind the happy days,
The days o' youthfu' love and pride,
When 'mang the glens and heath'ry braes
I woo'd and won my bonnie bride;
And weel I mind the blessed time,
When Hymen wove the nuptial spell,
And waken'd joys whilk few but they
Far, far an' owre in heav'n can tell.

My bonnie wife—the charm o' life,
She's than than India's gowd to me,
Oh! blessings on my bonnie wife,
I'll like her till the day I dee.
She's aye sae blythe when I come hame,
Sae glad o' e'e, sae sweet o' mou',
The saft voice o' my couthie dame
Is kinder than the turtle's coo.

And then she's aye sae gude and meek
That angel's e'en her heart might see,
I think its maistly for her sake
Contentment likes to dwell wi' me.
When gay young frien's come down the gate
Or aiblins been auid birkie's ca',
Our wee bit cot she mak's sae neat,
It's no that unco-like ava:

For though we brag nae routh o' braws,
Nor count wi' daintier folks to shine,
Her form mak's up for pictured wa's,
Her face gars ilka thing look fine.
And when around the fire at night
Our wee love-doos come todling ben,
There's something gars my heart beat light—
A-maist owre rich for mortal ken!

The skies without may smile or frown,
But still our cheerie hearth's the same;
Like birds that aye gang wi' the sun,
We've simmer a' the year at hame.
Lang may the rose bloom on her cheek,
The star o' joy light up her e'e;
Lang may the smile play on her lip,
And a' that's gude her portion be.

And when the sun o' life gaes down,
May gowden glories light her rest,
And endless joys, the earth aboon,
Mak' her the liappiest o' the blest.
My bonnie wife—the charm o' life,
She's mair than India's gowd to me,
Oh! blessings on my bonnie wife,
I'll like her till the day I dee.

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