Few, few shall part where many meet!
The snow shall be their winding-sheet;
And every turf beneath their feet

Shall be a soldier's cemetery !

58. THE SOLDIER'S RETURN.

WHEN wild war's deadly blast was blawn,
And gentle peace returning,

Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless,
And mony a widow mourning;
I left the lines and tented field,
Where lang I'd been a lodger,
My humble knapsack a' my wealth,
A poor but honest sodger.

A leal,1 light heart was in my breast,
A hand unstain'd wi' plunder;
And for fair Scotia, hame again,
I cheery on did wander.

I thought upon the banks o'Coil,
I thought upon my Nancy;
I thought upon the witching smile
That caught my youthful fancy.

At length I reach'd my bonnie glen,
Where early life I sported;

I pass'd the mill, and trysting thorn,
Where Nancy aft I courtèd:

Wha' spied I but my ain dear maid,
Down by her mother's dwelling!

And turn'd me round to hide the flood

That in

my
een 2

was swelling.

1 loyal, true.

2 eyes.

Campbell.

!

Wi' alter'd voice, quoth I, “Sweet lass,
"Sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom,
"O! happy, happy may he be,
"That's dearest to thy bosom!
"My purse is light, I've far to gang,
"And fain would be thy lodger;
"I've serv'd my king and country lang
"Take pity on a sodger!

Sae wistfully she gaz'd on me,
And lovelièr grew than ever;

Quo' she, "A sodger ance I lo’ed,

Forget him shall I never:

"Our humble cot, and hamely fare

"Ye freely shall partake it;

“That gallant badge, the dear cockade,

"Ye're welcome for the sake o't."

She gaz'd—she redden'd like a rose—
Syne3 pale like any lily,

She sank within my arms and cried,

"Art thou my ain dear Willie ?

66

By Him Who made yon sun and sky

By Whom true love's regarded,

“I am the man ; and thus may still

"True lovers be rewarded!

"The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame,

"And find thee still true-hearted!

"Tho' poor in gear, we're rich in love, "And mair, we'se ne'er be parted."

Quo' she, "My grandsire left me gowd, "A mailen plenish'd fairly;

4

"And come, my faithfu' sodger lad, "Thou'rt welcome to it dearly."

For gold the merchant ploughs the main,
The farmer ploughs the manor;

But glory is the sodger's prize,
The sodger's wealth is honour:
The brave poor sodger ne'er despise,
Nor count him as a stranger,
Remember he's his country's stay

In day and hour of danger.

59.-A PLAIN DIRECTION.

IN London once I lost my way

In faring to and fro,

And ask'd a little ragged boy

The way that I should go ;

He gave a nod, and then a wink,
And told me to get there

"Straight down the Crooked Lane,
“And all round the Square."

I box'd his little saucy ears,

And then away I strode;

But since I've found that weary path

Is quite a common road—

Utopia is a pleasant place,

But how shall I get there?

"Straight down the Crooked Lane,

"And all round the Square."

I've read about a famous town
That drove a famous trade,

Where Whittington walk'd up and found

A fortune ready made.

The very streets are paved with gold;

Burns.

But how shall I get there?

66

Straight down the Crooked Lane, "And all round the Square."

I've read about a Fairy Land,

In some romantic tale,

Where Dwarfs if good, are sure to thrive, And wicked Giants fail.

My wish was great, my shoes were strong, But how shall I get there?

"Straight down the Crooked Lane

"And all round the Square."

I've heard about some happy Isle,

Where ev'ry man is free,

And none can lie in bonds for life

For want of L. S. D.

Oh that's the land of Liberty!

But how shall I get there?

"Straight down the Crooked Lane,
"And all round the Square."

I've dreamt about some blessed spot,
Beneath the blessed sky,

Where Bread and Justice never rise
Too dear for folks to buy.

It's cheaper than the Ward of Cheap,
But how shall I get there?

"Straight down the Crooked Lane,

“And all round the Square."

They say there is an Ancient House,

As pure as it is old,

Where Members always speak their minds,

And votes are never sold.
I'm fond of all antiquities,
But how shall I get there?

"Straight down the Crooked Lane,
“And all round the Square."

They say there is a Royal Court
Maintain'd in noble state,

Where ev'ry able man, and good,
Is certain to be great!

I'm very fond of seeing sights,
But how shall I get there?
"Straight down the Crooked Lane,
“And all round the Square."

They say there is a Temple too
Where Christians come to pray;
But canting knaves and hypocrites,
And bigots keep away.

O! that's the parish church for me! But how shall I get there?

66

Straight down the Crooked Lane, "And all round the Square."

They say there is a garden fair,

That's haunted by the dove,

Where love of gold doth ne'er eclipse

The golden light of love

The place must be a Paradise,

But how shall I get there?

66

Straight down the Crooked Lane, "And all round the Square."

I've heard there is a famous Land
For public spirit known—

Whose Patriots love its interests

Much better than their own.

The Land of Promise sure it is!

But how shall I get there?

'Straight down the Crooked Lane

"And all round the Square."