A Drop of Scotch

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 180, 14 July 1928, Page 9

A Drop of Scotch

The Shepherd’s Song

The gowan glitters on the award, The lav’rock’s in the sky, And Collie on my plaid keeps ward, And time is passing by.

Oh, no! sad and slow And lengthened on the ground. The shadow of our trystin’ busji, It wears sae slowly round 1

My sheep-bell tinkles frae the west, My lambs are bleating near. But still the sound that 1 lo’e best, Alack I I canna hear. Oh, no! sad and slow, The shadow lingers still; And like a lanely ghaist 1 stand And croon upon the hill.

I coft yestreen frae chapman Tam. A snood of bonny blue, And promised, when our trystin’ cam To tie it round her brow. Oh no! sad and slow. The mark it winna pass; The shadow of that weary thorn Is tethered on the grass.

0 now I see her on the way, She's past tile witches’ knowe; She’s climbin’ up the brownie’s brae My heart is in a lowe. Oh; no! ’tis na sol' 'Tis glaumrie I ha’e seen: The shadow of that hawthorn bush Will move nae mair till e’en.

My book c«j grace I’ll try to read, Though conn’d wi’ little skill; Whei; Collie barks I’ll laise my head And find her on the hili. Oh no! sad and slow. The time will ne’er be gane; The shadow of the trystin’ bush Is fixed like ony stnne. —Joanna Bailie.