HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 3

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

Tho following versos were received last week by tho secretary of tho Caledonian Society from the secretary of the St. Andrew Society, Edinburgh, and are from the pen of Robert Anderson, the so-called railway poet:— There's naethin' like the clasp o' a. guid Scots hand Toe a Scot when lie's far awa'— Far frae the dear auld Jlitherland, An' iiamo an' frien's an' a'. Tho' the Imu' that grasps yer han' be hard, An' scarred \vi' years o' toil, 'Tis tlio grasp that speaks o' oor warn regard For the things o' Scotish soil, There's uaething like the soun' o' the guid Scots tongue, As it fa's on a Scottish car, For wharsoe'er it he spoke or sung, It has its memories dear: Jlem'ries that ca' tac the exile's hert Frae oot his native glen, Till fierce an' sudden the tear Willi start— Yo canna hand it ben. Sao here's again tae the dear auld land Oor forebears lo'ed sae dear; St. Andrew's Xicht. let ns rax a hand Tae Scotsmen far an' near, For tho sake o' the bluid in a' cor veins, An' the land o' a common thorlit; An' may nanc gae back while life remains On the honest name o' a Scot. The society has also received greetings in the following terms from Mr J. Spenco Browii. eaoiMtry ami treasurer of St. Andrew's Society. Edinburgh:— " Frcens an Brif her Scots,—This com™ a' tho rod fine Edinburry, wi' her!y guid wishes frae the folk o' the St. Andrew Society a' ower braid Scot-lan'. They «a' wish yo guid cheer an' a waltli o tatties an' haggis, an' twa three hau'fs tae evnd them doon."