His very foot has music in't
As he comes up the stair!
And shall I see his face again,
And shall I hear him speak!
I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought,
In troth I'm like to greet.

For there's nae, &c.

If Colin's weel, I'm weel content,
I hae nae mair to crave-
And gin I live to keep him sae,
I'm blest aboon the lave.
And shall I see his face again,
And shall I hear him speak!
I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought,
In troth I'm like to greet.

For there's nae, &c.

The cauld blasts of the winter wind,
That thrilled through my heart,
They're a' blawn by,—I hae him safe,
Till death we'll never part:

But why should I of parting talk?

When lasses braw gae'd out at e'en,
For sport and pastime free,
I seem'd like ane in paradise,
The moments quick did flee.
Like Venuses they a' appeared,

Weel pouthered was their locks,
'Twas easy dune, when at their hames,
Wi' the shaking o' their pocks.
And sing, Oh waes me!

How happy past my former days,
Wi' merry heartsome glee,
When smiling fortune held the cup,
And peace sat on my knee;
Nae wants had I but were supplied,
My heart wi' joy did knock,
When in the neuk I smiling saw

A gaucie weel fill'd pock.

And sing, Oh waes me !

Speak no ae word about reform,
Nor petition Parliament,
A wiser scheme I'll now propone,
I'm sure ye'll gie consent-
Send up a chiel or twa like me,

As a sample o' the flock,

Whase hollow cheeks will be sure proof, O'a hinging toom meal pock.

And sing, Oh waes me!

And should a sicht sae ghastly like,
Wi' rags, and banes, and skin,
Hae nae impression on yon folks,
But tell ye'll stand ahin.

O what a contrast will ye shaw,

To the glowrin Lunnun folk, When in St. James' ye tak' your stand, Wi' a hinging toom meal pock,

And sing, Oh waes me!

Then rear your hand, and glour, and stare,

Before yon hills o' beef,

Tell them ye are frae Scotland come,

For Scotia's relief;

Tell them ye are the vera best

Wal'd frae the fattest flock,

Then raise your arms, and O! display

A hinging toom meal pock.

And sing, Oh waes me !

Tell them ye're wearied o' the chain
That hauds the State thegither,
For Scotland wishes just to tak’
Gude nicht wi' ane anither.
We canna thole, we canna bide
This hard unwieldy yoke,
For wark and want but ill agree,
Wi' a hinging toom meal pock.
And sing, Oh waes me!

*

John Robertson.

BLYTH ARE WE SET WI' ITHER.

Blyth are we set wi' ither;

Fling Care ayont the moon;

Nae sae aft we meet thegither;

Wha wad think o' parting soon?
Tho' snaw bends down the forest trees,
And burn and river cease to flow:
Tho' Nature's tide hae shor'd to freeze,
And winter nithers a' below.

Blyth are we, &c.

* We are not very certain to what tune this song is sung.-We believe it is an old one, but those who may be inquisitive on this topic may apply to our worthy friend Mr. G. M of Paisley, who sings it himself ad vivam

and shakes the toom meal pock to the admiration of all.

Now, round the ingle cheerly met,

We'll scog the blast and dread nae harm;
Wi' jaws o' toddy, reeking het,

We'll keep the genial current warm.
The friendly crack, the cheerfu' sang,
Shall cheat the happy hours awa',
Gar pleasure reign the e'ening lang,
And laugh at biting frost and snaw.
Blyth are we, &c.

The cares that cluster round the heart,
And gar the bosom stound wi' pain,
Shall get a fright afore we part,

Will gar them fear to come again.
Then, fill about, my winsome chiels,
The sparkling glass will banish pine:

Nae pain the happy bosom feels,

Sae free o' care as yours and mine.
Blyth are we, &c.

The above song is given from the two volumes of miscellaneous poetry published by Picken, previous to his death. Some particulars regarding him have been handed to us by a friend, which were, however, too late for insertion in the proper place. That friend has also given us the name of another versifier, by name James Caldwell, of whom we were ignorant. Caldwell, it seems, was the author of several loyal songs, published anonymously, which were sung on His Majesty's birth-day at the annual processions of the weavers of Paisley. These were mostly composed during the period that Wilkes' faction was at its height. He died at an advanced period of life in 1787.

Ebenezer Picken was bred to the church, but desisted from prosecuting his theological studies for the purpose of enjoying more leisure to cultivate the muses. How much he may have sacrificed for their sakes is not perhaps exactly known; but certain it is that these coy nymphs adventured but little for his. He was of a social and joyous disposition, fond of company, and intimate with most of the minor constellations in the hemisphere of Scotish poetry. He was the friend of Alexander Wil

son, and like him, delivered a poetic oration in the Pantheon at Edinburgh. Having embarked in some commercial speculations which failed-Picken, after enjoying comparative affluence and comfort for some time, was reduced to indigence and distress. He died in 1815 or 1816.

We owe our thanks to the gentleman who furnished us with the substance of the above notices, and are only sorry that it is incompatible with our limits to insert the judicious reflections with which they were accompanied. Better use of them will be made hereafter.

THE FIVE FRIENDS.

A famous Scotish Sang.

TUNE-We're a' noddin.

Weel wha's in the bouroch, and what is your cheer?
The best that ye'll find in a thousand year.

And we're a' noddin, nid nid noddin,

We're a' noddin fou at e'en.

There's our ain Jamie Clark frae the hall o' Argyle,
Wi' his leal Scotish heart, and his kind open smile.
And we're a' noddin, &c.

There is Will the gude fallow, wha kills a' our care,
Wi' his sang and his joke, and a mutchkin mair.
And we're a' noddin, &c.

There is blythe Jamie Barr frae St. Barchan's town,
When wit gets a kingdom, he's sure o' the crown.
And we're a' noddin, &c.

There is Rab frae the south, wi' his fiddle and his flute,
I could list to his sangs till the starns fa' out.

And we're a' noddin, &c.

Apollo, for our comfort, has furnish'd the bowl,
And here is my bardship, as blind as an owl.
And we're a' noddin, &c.

Robert Tannakill.