WILLIAM THOM

The birds sang bonnie as Love drew near,

But dowie when he gaed by; Till lull'd wi' the sough o' monie a sang, He sleepit fu' soun' and sail'd alang

'Neath Heaven's gowden sky.

'Twas just whaur creeping Ury greets

Its mountain cousin Don, There wander'd forth a weelfaur'd dame, Wha listless gazed on the bonnie stream, As it flirted an* play'd with a sunny beam

That flicker'd its bosom upon.

Love happit his head, I trow, that time

The jessamine bark drew nigh, The lassie espied the wee rosebud, An* aye her heart gae thud for thud,

An' quiet it wadna lie.

• O gin I but had yon wearie wee flower

That floats on the Ury sae fair ! ' She lootit her hand for the silly rose-leaf, But little wist she o' the pawkie thief That was lurkin' an* laughin' there !

Love glower'd when he saw her bonnie dark e'e,

An* swore by Heaven's grace He ne'er had seen nor thought to see, Since e'er he left the Paphian lea,

Sae lovely a dwallin'-place.

dowie] dejectedly. weelfaur'd] well-favoured, comely. happit] covered up. lootit] lowered. pawkie] sly. glower'd] stared.

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