Than a' the pride that loads the tide, JEANIE'S BOSOM. This is an early composition. It was the first of the Poet's songs composed in praise of "Bonnie Jean," afterwards Mrs. Burns. TUNE-My mother's ay glowering owre me. LOUIS, what reck I by thee, WILLIE'S WIFE. This song is founded on an old border ditty, beginning "Willie Wastle dwells in his castle, An' nae a loun in a' the town Can tak Willie Wastle doun." TUNE-Tibbie Fowler in the glen. WILLIE WASTLE dwalt on Tweed, The spot they ca'd it Linkumdoddie; Bankrupt.-2 Ragamuffins.-3 Get away.-4 Thievish queans.-5 Weaver. Cou'd stown' a clue wi' onie bodie; I wad na gie a button for her. She has an ee, she has but ane, Her nose and chin they threaten ither: She's bow-hough'd," she's hein-shinn'd," Auld baudrans1o by the ingle" sits, She dights her grunzie wi' a hushion;13 1 Stolen-supposed to allude to the dishonest practices of some weavers who purloin the yarn that is sent to the loom. 2 Sullen and shallow.-3 A gipsey woman.-4 Besides.-5 Deafen.- Knockkneed. Bony-shinned.-8 Hand-breadth.- Every.-10 The cat.—11 Fireplace.-12 Hand.-13 Cleans her mouth with a cushion.-14 Large fists.15 Dung-baskets.-16 Make dirty. 33 I HAE A WIFE O' MY AIN. The Poet was accustomed to say that the most happy period of his life was the first winter he spent at Elliesland,-for the first time under a roof of his own with his wife and children about him. It is known that he wel. comed his wife to her roof-tree at Elliesland in this song.-Lockhart. I HAE a wife o' my ain, I'll partake wi' naebody; I hae a penny to spend, I am naebody's lord, I'll be slave to naebody; I'll be merry and free, BONNIE WEE THING. Composed," says Burns, "on my little idol, the charming, lovely Davies." TUNE-The Lads of Saltcoats. Bonnie wee thing, cannie wee thing, I wad wear thee in my bosom, Lest my jewel I should tine.3 WISHFULLY I look and languish, 1 Blows.-2 Lose. Wit and grace, and love and beauty, To adore thee is my duty, Goddess o' this soul o' mine. THE SOLDIER'S RETURN. The "Poor and Honest Sodger" laid hold at once on public feeling, and it was everywhere sung with enthusiasm, which only began to abate when Campbell's Exile of Erin and Wounded Hussar were published.-Lockhart's Life of Burns. TUNE-The mill, mill, O. WHEN wild war's deadly blast was blawn, Wi' monie a sweet babe fatherless, And monie a widow mourning, I left the lines and tented field, A leal, light heart was in my breast, I thought upon the banks o' Coil, At length I reach'd the bonny glen, I pass'd the mill and trysting thorn, Wi' alter'd voice, quoth I, "Sweet lass, Oh happy, happy may he be That's dearest to thy bosom! My purse is light, I've far to gang, Sae wistfully she gazed on me, That gallant badge, the dear cockade, She gazed-she redden'd like a rose— She sank within mine arms and cried, "The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame, For gold the merchant ploughs the main, But glory is the sodger's prize, 1 Farm. |