MY WIFE'S A WINSOME WEE

THING.

HE is a winsome' wee' thing, She is a handsome wee thing, She is a bonnie wee thing, This sweet wee wife o' mine.

I never saw a fairer,

I never lo'ed a dearer,

3

And neist my heart I'll wear her,
For fear my jewel tine.*

She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a bonnie wee thing,

This sweet wee wife of mine.

5

The warlds wrack, we share o't,
The warstle" and the care o't,
Wi' her I'll blythely bear it,
And think my lot divine.

NAPOLEON AND THE BRITISH

SAILOR.

LOVE contemplating — apart
From all his homicidal glory,

The traits that soften to our heart
Napoleon's story!

"Twas when his banners at Boulogne Arm'd in our island every freeman, His navy chanced to capture one Poor British seaman.

They suffer'd him, I know not how, Unprison'd on the shore to roam; And aye was bent his longing brow On England's home.

His eye, methinks! pursued the flight Of birds to Britain half-way over; With envy they could reach the white Dear cliffs of Dover.

NAPOLEON AND THE SAILOR.

137

A stormy, midnight watch, he thought,
Than this sojourn would have been dearer,
If but the storm his vessel brought
To England nearer.

At last, when care had banished sleep,
He saw one morning - dreaming— doting,
An empty hogshead from the deep
Come shoreward floating.

He hid it in a cave, and wrought
The live-long day laborious; lurking
Until he launched a tiny boat

By mighty working.

Heaven help us! 'twas a thing beyond
Description wretched; such a wherry
Perhaps ne'er ventured on a pond,
Or crossed a ferry.

Far ploughing in the salt-sea field,

It would have made the boldest shudder; Untarr'd, uncompass'd, and unkeel'd,

From neighb'ring woods he interlaced
His sorry skiff with wattled willows;
And thus equipped he would have pass'd
The foaming billows.

138 NAPOLEON AND THE SAILOR.

But Frenchmen caught him on the beach,
His little Argo sorely jeering;

Till tidings of him chanced to reach,
Napoleon's hearing.

With folded arms Napoleon stood,
Serene alike in peace and danger;
And, in his wonted attitude,
Addressed the stranger:-

"Rash man, that would'st yon Channel pass On twigs and staves so rudely fashion'd; Thy heart with some sweet British lass Must be impassion'd."

"I have no sweetheart," said the lad;
"But absent long from one another
Great was the longing that I had
To see my mother."

"And so thou shalt," Napoleon said;
"Ye've both my favor fairly won;
A noble mother must have bred
So brave a son.".

He gave the tar a piece of gold,

And, with a flag of truce commanded, He should be shipped to England old, And safely landed.

WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE.

139

Our sailor oft could scantly shift
To find a dinner, plain and hearty;
But never changed the coin and gift,
Of Bonaparté.

Thomas Campbell.

WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE!

POODMAN, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now;
'Twas my forefather's hand
That placed it near his cot;
There, woodman, let it stand,
Thy axe shall harm it not.

That old familiar tree,

Whose glory and renown
Are spread o'er land and sea-
And would'st thou hew it down?
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!

Cut not its earth-bound ties;

O, spare that aged oak,

Now towering to the skies!