Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

THE LONESOME DELL.

'Tis a lonesome dell-for the peasants tell,
While the pear tree branch'd o'er the fountain well,
There the struggling maiden shriek'd her last;
And his cheek grows pale, as he whispers the tale
To the stranger wandering through the vale,

Where Kelvin waters are murmuring past.

221

During some passing conversation held with an old peasant, by the Pear-Tree-Well at north Woodside, upon the Kelvin, he thus addressed the visitor::—“ In yonder old house (pointing eastward), some thirty-eight years ago, lived Catharine Clark with her mother. One Saturday, late in autumn, a young man, understood to be her sweetheart, called her out in the gloaming. Within two hours thereafter, he again visited her mother's cottage; the anxious mother seeing him enter alone, and also observing some spots of blood upon his hands and dress, cried out in the utmost trepidation, 'Where is my daughter?' The lad made some excuse to account for Catharine's absence, tending to lull, though not to satisfy a mother's fears; and killing a sheep were the immediate causes of her groundless fears. It was strange, that he was not immediately seized, and more so, that he was allowed to return home, to one of the low bleachfield houses down upon the river opposite Kelvin-side where he then lodged: early next morning, a search was instituted until the girl was found. She had been murdered in the hollow behind the Pear-Tree-Well, and a huge slab of granite laid over the shallow crypt wherein she lay. Evil One must have assisted the murderer in his unhallowed task," continued the peasant, "for two stout men could with difficulty remove the stone. It also was surmisal that the wretch had fled to Ireland, as he never was apprehended for the crime."

The

The Pear-Tree-Well, above alluded to, is said to have received its name from a pear-tree which formerly grew over it: at present the fountain is guarded by a branching plane-tree, and two stately elms; the well which here overlooks the Kelvin in one of its most romantic scenes of wood and valley, is arched over with stone and rudely paved in front, where the thirsty pilgrim, who chooses to

visit this western Arcadia of ours, and drink of its refreshing waters, will find an iron ladle, attached to a chain of the same metal, rivetted into a side stone of the fountain, bearing this memorable inscription:

"STOLEN FROM THE PEA'-TREE-WELL."

THE WINTER BOWER.

Air.-"THE ROSE-TREE."

YON winter bower is fairer,

When moonshine's around the glade;

These glens to me are dearer

Than balmy summer's flowery shade:

As through the pines we wander,

Where rushes down the mountain stream

In all its native grandeur,

Reflected o'er by Cynthia's beam.

I ranged the woodland's border,

Where gay flowers in summer grow;

But all in wild disorder

Lay wreathed in the drifting snow:
Yet round the bower the Christmas rose,

And holly's scarlet berries hung,

I twined them on my love's brows,

And kiss'd the garland blooming round.

[ocr errors]

THE SOLDIER'S RETURN.

223

THE SOLDIER'S RETURN.

A soldier wandering o'er the fields,
Viewing the pleasures sweet summer yields,
Espied a maiden at close of day,
Whilst hay was making,

She was busy raking her father's green hay.

All faint and weary he sat him down,

And eyed the maiden, whose smile had flown,

For thoughts hung wild round her heart, whene'er
Fond dreams recalling

Hush'd hopes that swelling, turn'd back on her dear.

O tell me, soldier! but no, she cries,

In foreign clime, my love's body lies,

No friend wept o'er him but heaven's dew,

O bloody Flanders!

His spirit wanders thy death-valleys through.

The soldier sigh'd as her dark eyes ran
O'er his war-worn features:-dim and wan
Grew
eye and cheek, as life's current holds
Back on her fond heart:-
:-

Close to his fond heart, his love he infolds.

The opening lines of the above, as well as those of the following Song, are taken from traditional Ballads, by way of rescuing from oblivion their respective airs, which are eminently beautiful, and peculiar to the Ballads themselves.

PRETTY MAID.

THERE was a pretty plough-boy,
A ploughing of his land,

Made his horses stand under a shade,
While he sang so sweet and shrill,

That each valley, wood, and hill,
Rung back the choral-melody:-Sweet maid!
Pretty maid!

Breezy zephyr caught the echo, Pretty maid!

By the streamlet's dimpling bosom,
Sat the plough-boy's blooming fair;
As his song floated up through the glade,
While she caught the cheering sound,
By young echo trill'd around,

And bade her whisper down the dell, ❝ Your maid!
Pretty maid!

Soon will meet you by the fountain in the shade."

WELCOME SUMMER BACK AGAIN.

Air." HIGHLAND HARRY BACK AGAIN.

IN Flora's train the graces wait,

And chase rude winter from the plain;
As on she roves, the wild flowers spring,
And welcome summer back again:
Spring dances o'er the plain,
Flowering all the woodland scene;
Then join with me, my lovely May,
To welcome summer back again.

SPRING'S ANTICIPATION.

The budding wild will soon perfume
The air, when balm'd by April's rain,
'Mong banks clad o'er wi' waving broom,
We'll welcome summer back again:
In yon sequester'd scene,

The mavis sings his cheerful strain,
And there we'll meet, my lovely May,
To welcome summer back again.

When yellow cowslips scent the mead,
Then gladness o'er the plains will reign,
And soon, my love! we'll pu' the flowers,
And welcome summer back again:
Spring dances o'er the plain,
Flowering all the woodland scene,
With blooming garlands in her train,
To welcome summer back again.

www

SPRING'S ANTICIPATION.

THOUGH winter o'er the hills and glens,
In dreary wreathes reposes;
Though lone and hoary droops the briar,
So late clad o'er with roses:

Yet soon the lovely days of spring

Will leaf the bending grove;

Then soft the breeze will fan the air,

And all will breathe of love.

225

« ZurückWeiter »