Mistress JEAN was makin' the elder-flower wine.
'An' what brings the Laird at sic a like time?'
She put aff her apron, and on her silk gown,
Her mutch wi' red ribbons; and gaed awa' down.

An' when she cam' ben, he bowed fu' low;
An' what was his errand, he soon let her know.
Amazed was the Laird, when the Lady said, 'Na!';
And wi' a laigh curtsie she turnèd awa'.

Dumfounder'd he was, nae sigh did he gie,
He mounted his mare-he rade cannily;
And aften he thought, as he gaed thro' the Glen,
'She's daft to refuse the Laird o' Cockpen!'

[And now that the Laird his exit has made, Mistress JEAN, she reflected on what she had said. 'Oh! for ane I'll get better; its waur I'll get ten! I was daft to refuse the Laird o' Cockpen!'

Next time that the Laird and the Lady were seen, They were gaun arm-in-arm to the Kirk on the Green; Now she sits in the Ha', like a weel-tappit hen; But, as yet, there's nae chickens appear'd at Cockpen.]

THE OLD FAMILIAR FACES.

WHERE are they gone, the old familiar faces?
I had a Mother; but she died, and left me!
Died prematurely, in a day of horrors!
All, all, are gone, the old familiar faces!

I have had Playmates, I have had Companions,
In my days of childhood! in my joyful school-days!
All, all, are gone, the old familiar faces!

I have been laughing, I have been carousing,
Drinking late, sitting late, with my bosom Cronies!
All, all, are gone, the old familiar faces!

I loved a Love once, fairest among women!
Closed are her doors on me! I must not see her!
All, all, are gone, the old familiar faces!

I have a Friend, a kinder friend has no man!
Like an ingrate, I left my Friend abruptly!
Left him, to muse on the old familiar faces!

Ghost-like, I paced round the haunts of my childhood,
Earth seemed a desert I was bound to traverse,

Seeking to find the old familiar faces.

Friend of my bosom! thou more than a brother!
Why wert not thou born in my father's dwelling?
So might we talk of the old familiar faces.

For some, they have died; and some, they have left me!
And some are taken from me! All are departed!

All, all, are gone, the old familiar faces!

January, 1798.

THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL AND THE

GRASSHOPPER'S FEAST.

'COME, take up your hats; and away let us haste
To the Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast!
The trumpeter, Gadfly, has summoned the crew;
And the Revels are now only waiting for you!'
So said little ROBERT; and, pacing along,
His merry companions came forth in a throng:
And, on the smooth grass, by the side of a wood,
Beneath an old oak that for ages had stood,
Saw the Children of Earth and the Tenants of Air,
For an evening's amusement together repair.

And there came the Beetle so blind and so black, Who carried the Emmet, his friend, on his back; And there was the Gnat, and the Dragon Fly too, With all their relations, green, orange, and blue; And there came the Moth, with his plumage of down, And the Hornet in jacket of yellow and brown, Who with him the Wasp, his companion, did bring; But they promised, that evening, to lay by their sting! And the sly little Dormouse crept out of his hole, And brought to the Feast his blind brother, the Mole;

And the Snail, with his horns peeping out of his shell, Came from a great distance—the length of an ell!

A Mushroom their table, and on it was laid A Water-dock Leaf, which a table-cloth made. The viands were various, to each of their taste; And the Bee brought her honey to crown the repast. Then, close on his haunches, so solemn and wise, The Frog from a corner looked up to the skies; And the Squirrel, well pleased such diversions to see, Mounted high over head, and looked down from a tree. Then, out came the Spider, with finger so fine,

To show his dexterity on the tight line,

From one branch to another his cobwebs he slung,
Then quick as an arrow he darted along;

But just in the middle, O, shocking to tell!

From his rope, in an instant, poor Harlequin fell!
Yet he touched not the ground; but, with talons outspread,
Hung suspended in air at the end of a thread.

Then, the Grasshopper came with a jerk and a spring, Very long was his leg, though but short was his wing; He took but three leaps, and was soon out of sight; Then chirped his own praises all the rest of the night. With step so majestic, the Snail did advance,

And promised the gazers a Minuet to dance;

But they all laughed so loud, that he pulled in his head, And went in his own little chamber to bed.

Then, as evening gave way to the shadows of night, Their Watchman, the Glowworm, came out with a light.

'Then home let us hasten, while yet we can see! For no Watchman is waiting for you and for me.' So said little ROBERT; and, pacing along,

His merry companions returned in a throng.

A SOLDIER am I, the world over I range; And would not my lot with a Monarch exchange! How welcome a Soldier, wherever he roves, Attended, like VENUS, by MARS and the Loves! How dull is the Ball, how cheerless the Fair! What's a feast, or a frolic? if we are not there! Kind, hearty, and gallant, and joyous, we come; And the World looks alive at the sound of the Drum!

'The Soldiers are coming!' the villagers cry; All trades are suspended to see us pass by. Quick flies the glad sound to the Maiden upstairs; In a moment dismissed are her broom and her cares! Outstretched is her neck till the Soldiers she sees, From her cap the red ribbon plays light in the breeze; But lighter her heart plays, as nearer we come; And redder her cheek at the sound of the Drum!

The Veteran, half dozing, awakes at the news, Hobbles out, and our column with triumph reviews: Near his knee, his young grandson, with ecstasy, hears Of Majors, and Generals, and fierce Brigadiers; Of the marches he took, and the hardships he knew ; Of the battles he fought, and the foes that he slew: To his heart spirits new, in wild revelry come, And make one rally more at the sound of the Drum!