«Stranger, ware nae words on me,
I'd no' be a captain's lady;
For the gowd o' Chrissendie,
I'd no' lea' my feeble daddy!
Grey wi' years, bow'd down wi' pain,
Jean's his hale delight and treasure;
In rude cot we envy nane,
"Lassie, dinna turn awa';
Suin in costly gear I'll deck thee, Big for thee a house mair bra',
Mistress o' the hale I'll mak thee: Thou shalt see the auld folk blest; I'll protect 'em frae ilk danger; Age and puirtith ay lack restDinna frown upo' the stranger!"
"Near yon kirk my mither's laid,
Tears o' sorrow I shed o'er her;
Your red coat and bra' cockade,
Ca' to mind ane I lost for her;
Dear he lo'ed me, sought my hand;
Mair I priz'd my mam and daddy;
Suin far frae his native land,
They slew my faithfu' shepherd laddie!"
Thy bright e'e's dimm'd wi' a tear,
Mine, to see it, sheds anither;
By the pearly draps, I swear,
Happy days we'll pass thegether,
I'm thy ain blithe shepherd lady
Rich, and hale, and honest-hearted: Haste, let's mak a parent glad,
And may we ne'er again be parted.”
I LONG have drank of pleasure's cup,
And oft have been the son of pain;
And I have tasted friendly joys,
That I must never share again:
For time hath now my forehead bared,
And cherish'd hopes, all, all are fled;
I cannot soothe another's woes,
Or dry the tear by sorrow shed!
Cold Poverty, with haggard look,
Now threatens sore, in life's decline; And Friendship wears another garb;
And Love's delights no more are mine.
Night comes not, now, with dreams of bliss;
I chide the slow approach of day;
Reflection causes painful sighs;
And I could weep the hours away
WHEN wearied bees with laden thighs
Humm'd, slowly wheeling tow'rds their cell;
When eve's blue mists began to rise,
And all was silence in the dell:
Where Eden's streams are heard afar,
And willows weave a shade,
I left the town, rejoic'd to meet
My blooming, smiling, fair-hair'd Maid.
I gaz'd, but feign'd a woe-worn look-
"My Mary, dear!" I sigh'd "Adieu!
To-morrow in the badge of war,
I leave thee to some one more true!"
In vain she tried her grief to hide,
I saw her colour fade;
She sunk, a lily at my feet,
The faithful, tender, fair-hair'd Maids
Anxious, I saw her soon revive,
And clasp'd her to my panting heart;
This falsehood, Mary, O forgive!
And mark the tear love bids to start:
To-morrow wilt thou be my own?"
"Ah! canst thou doubt?” she said, We hail'd the long-wish'd happy hour She's mine, the matchless fair-hair'd Maid!
ADDRESSED TO MR. WM. BELL, OF GILSLAND, W. M. AND THE BRETHREN OF ST. MICHAEL'S LODGE, BRAMPTON.
TUNE," Let care be a stranger to each jovial soul.”
SINCE to serve a poor Cumbrian Bard is your plan,
Let gratitude shew the great duty of man;
Around you may health, love, and cheerfulness reign,
And those who scorn pleasure, still scorn to give pain:
That good men are equal, all wise men declare,
From the prince to the peasant, each bows to dull care;
Το get rid of that pest, keep this maxim in view,
Still DO UNTO OTHERS, AS YOU'D BE DONE TO!
While our master delighteth, nor seeks to betray,
May the day-star of hope never lead him astray;
While to draw man from folly, his mind's nobly bent,
May the master and brethren still harbour content:
Improv'd, rul'd by masonry's truths, void of art,
When death gives the summons, we'll cheerfully part;
Till then, let us all keep this maxim in view,
TO DO UNTO Others, as we'd be done to!
Then join heart and hand, and unite in one voice,
Το
Fo pray for each mason, his brethrens' proud choice;
May each brother be blest with wealth, freedom, and
And the rights of all sects, and all parties increase!
Ah! happy the day, when to mortals was giv'n,
Of all Institutions, the FIRST UNDER HEAV'N!
By this, we can keep the grand maxim in view,
And no UNTO others, as we'D BE DONE TO!
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