A Berwickshire bard; the songs and poems of Robert McLean Calder - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ... the strife for the wee anes at hame. The sailor wha faces the storms o' the deep, In lang weary vigils his watch has to keep, 'Tis then that the stars peepin' out frae the lift Remind o' the dear native hame he has left; For the same stars that glint on the crest o' the faem Watch owre the dear forms o' the wee anes at hame. The cottar wha toils thro' the rain an' the snaw, In lang weary days has this comfort thro' a'; It's no' for himsel' that he struggles sae sair, But the hame-ties that cheer him, an' drive off despair, Are the nestlin's sae helpless, wha rightly lay claim To the bread he maun win for the wee anes at hame. Oh! what wad this life be to mony wha toil, That the rich may enjoy a' the fruits o' the soil, Wha thro' the lang yeir drudge the same dreary roun', An' grudged e'en the bite that their sair toil has won! A' the butt'ets o' fortune, the cankered auld dame, Canna weaken their care for the wee anes at hame. HAME AT E'EN. 165 HAME AT E'EN. The birds may flit on wanton wing, An' chirp the lee-lang day; The bees intent on gatherin' Their sweets amang the hay; But when the gloamin' draws its veil O'er mead an' muirland scene, Baith bird an' bee wi' fleetest wing Seek aye their names at e'en. The frail auld cottar in the fields, Wha toils baith late an' ear', An' aften when a scrimpit pay Leaves puirtith pinchin' sair: Few o' the joys o' life he kens, Sma' glints an' seldom seen; His greatest pleasure is the tho't O' rest when hame at e'en. The bairns may rove o'er bank an' brae, An' sport the hours away, While tho'ts o' hame ne'er fash their heids Till comes the gloamin' gray; 'Tis then the anxious mither asks, "Guid sakes, where hae ye been 1" But noo her fears are set at rest When nestlin' hame at e'en. The traveller o'er the mu...