O FOR ANE-AND-TWENTY, TAM.

TUNE-The Moudiewort.

"The subject of this song had a real origin: a young girl having been left some property by a near relation, and at her own disposal on her attaining majority, was pressed by her relations to marry an old rich booby. Her affections, however, had previously been engaged by a young man, to whom she had pledged her troth when she should become of age, and she of course obstinately rejected the solicitations of her friends to any other match. Burns represents the lady addressing her youthful lover in the language of constancy and

AND O for ane-and-twenty, Tam.
And hey, sweet ane-and-twenty. Tam,
I'll learn my kin a rattlin' sang,
An' I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.

They snool me sair, and haud me down,

And gar me look like bluntie, Tam! a sniveller But three short years will soon wheel roun’— And then comes ane-and-twenty, Tam.

A gleib o' lan', a claut o' gear,
Was left me by my auntie, Tam;
At kith or kin I needna spier,

An' I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.

They'll hae me wed a wealthy coof,
Though I mysel' hae plenty, Tam;

But hear'st thou, laddie

--

lump

ask

fool

there's loof

palm

my

I'm thine at ane-and-twenty, Tam.

BESS AND HER SPINNING-WHEEL.

TUNE-The Sweet Lass that lo'es me.

O LEEZE me on my spinning-wheel,
O leeze me on my rock and reel;
Frae tap to tae that cleeds me bien,
And haps me fiel and warm at e'en!
I'll set me down and sing and spin,
While laigh descends the simmer sun,
Blest wi' content, and milk and meal -
O leeze me on my spinning-wheel!

On ilka hand the burnies trot,
And meet below my theekit cot;

thatched

The scented birk and hawthorn white,

Across the pool their arms unite,

Alike to screen the birdie's nest,
And little fishes' caller rest:

The sun blinks kindly in the biel',
Where blithe I turn my spinning-wheel.

On lofty aiks the cushats wail,
And echo cons the doolfu' tale;
The lintwhites in the hazel braes,
Delighted, rival ither's lays:
The craik amang the clover hay,
The paitrick whirrin' o'er the ley,

cool

shed

wood-pigeons

linnets

landrail

partridge

The swallow jinkin' round my shiel, fodging-shed

Amuse me at my spinning-wheel.

Wi' sma' to sell, and less to buy,
Aboon distress, below envy,

O wha wad leave this humble state,
For a' the pride of a' the great?
Amid their flaring, idle toys,
Amid their cumbrous, dinsome joys,
Can they the peace and pleasure feel
Of Bessy at her spinning-wheel?

NITHSDALE'S WELCOME HAME.

Written when Lady Winifred Maxwell, the de scendant of the forfeited Earl of Nithsdale, returned to Scotland and rebuilt Terregles House, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Captain Riddel of Glenriddel furnished the air to which Burns composed the

verses.

THE noble Maxwells and their powers
Are coming o'er the Border,

And they'll gae bigg Terregles towers, build
And set them a' in order.

And they declare Terregles fair,

For their abode they choose it;
There's no a heart in a' the land
But's lighter at the news o't.

Though stars in skies may disappear,
And angry tempests gather,
The happy hour may soon be near
That brings us pleasant weather.
The weary night o' care and grief
May hae a joyful morrow;
So dawning day has brought relief-
Fareweel our night of sorrow!

COUNTRY LASSIE.

TUNE-The Country Lass.

IN simmer, when the hay was mawn,
And corn waved green in ilka field,
While claver blooms white o'er the lea,
And roses blaw in ilka bield;
Blithe Bessie in the milking shiel,

sheltered place

Says, "I'll be wed, come o't what will;"

Out spak a dame in wrinkled eild,

66

"O guid advisement comes nae ill.

"It's ye hae wooers monie ane,

And, lassie, ye're but young, ye ken; Then wait a wee, and cannie wale

shed

age

calmly

A routhie butt, a routhie ben: well-stored house There's Johnnie o' the Buskie Glen,

Fu' is his barn, fu' is his byre; Tak this frae me, my bonny hen,

It's plenty beets the luver's fire."

For Johnnie o' the Buskie Glen,
I dinna care a single flie;

cow-house

keeps up