THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY. - Now simmer blinks on flow'ry braes, Bonnie lassie, 8c. Bonnie lassie, &c. Bonnie lassie, fc. Bonnie lassie, 8c. Bonnie lassie, 8c. * * BURNS says, “ I composed these stanzas standing under the falls of Aberfeldy, at, or near Moness.” They are written in the same measure as the Birks of Abergeldie, an old Scottish Song, from which nothing is borrowed but the chorus. THE BANKS OF THE DEE. 'Twas summer, and softly the breezes were blowing, And sweetly the nightingale sung from the tree; At the foot of a rock where the river was flowing, I sat myself down on the banks of the Dee. Flow on, lovely Dee, flow on thou sweet river, Thy banks, purest stream, shall be dear to me ever: For there I first gain'd the affection and favour Of Jamie the glory and pride of the Dee. But now he's gone from me, and left me thus mourning, To quell the proud rebels—for valiant is he; And ah! there's no hope of his speedy returning, To wander again on the banks of the Dee. He's gone, hapless youth, o'er the loud-roaring billows, The kindest and sweetest of all the gay fellows, And left me to stray 'mongst the once loved willows, The loneliest maid on the banks of the Dee. But time and my prayers may perhaps yet restore him, Blest peace may restore my dear shepherd to me; And when he returns, with such care I'll watch o'er him, He never shall leave the sweet banks of the Dee. The Dee then shall flow, all its beauties displaying; The lambs on its banks shall again be seen playing; While I with my Jamie am carelessly straying, And tasting again all the sweets of the Dee. THE AULD MAN'S SANG. Tune-"Dumbarton Drums." For how happy now am I, With my auld wife sitting by, * Many have supposed this song to be a production of the “ olden time.” This, however, appears to be a mistake. In a late edition of the Works of Burns, it is stated in a note to have been the production of Mr. John MAYNE. This Gentleman is a native of Glasgow, and at present one of the Proprietors of the London Star. He is the author of “Glasgow, a Poem,” and several other pieces of considerable merit. Logan Braes first came to be popularly known in the South West of Scotland about the year 1783. About the same time it was published by most of the Music Sellers in London, and soon became a great favourite at Vauxhall.-It will be seen, by a reference to Burns's Logan Water, that he has adopted two lines of MAYNE's Song. We began in this world with naething, 0, We made use of what we had, And our thankful hearts were glad, When we got the bit meat and the claithing, O. When we had any thing we never vaunted, O, Nor did we hing our heads when we wanted, 0; We always gave a share, Of the little we could spare, We have liv'd all our lifetime contented, 0, It's true we have been poor, And we are so to this hour, We never laid a plot to be wealthy, 0, But we always had the bliss, (And what further could we wis'?) To be pleas’d with ourselves and be healthy, O. But tho’ we cannot boast of our guineas, O, And these I'm certain are More desirable by far We have seen many wonder and ferlie, 0, Of rich folks up and down, Both in country and in town, That now live but scrimply and sparely, 0. Then why should people brag of prosperity, O, Since a straiten'd life we see is no rarity, O? |