Sweethearts a score I whyles rhyme ow’r—their names, Bell, Barb’ra, Bess, Ann, Kirsty, Kate, May, Margaret, Jean, Georgie, Jamesie, Jess, Johanna, Helen, Hannah, Agnes, Maries twae or three, An’ a pauchtie dame I’m sweir to name, the dearest yince to me. But monie a day has passed away, ay, monie a lang dark year, Sin I’d the chance o’ smile or glance frae them lang syne sae dear, An’ hoo they’ve fared, whase lots they’ve shared, or where the hames they’ve blest, May sometime be revealed to me—but noo it’s just a mist. My schulemates! hoo _they’re_ squander’t noo, I haena words to say, Some east away, some wast away, they a’ gaed far away— But what-for say they’re wide away, or sunder’t far abreed? When, weel I wat, it’s waur be that, the feck hae lang been deid. Aih me! aih me! aul’ Lockerbie, my heart sinks cauld an’ wae At the doolfu’ thocht o’ changes wrocht sin I speel’t Mount Ulzie’s brae; But aye I’m fain to see’t again, an’ aye I hope an’ pray To rest a wee at Lockerbie afore I’m ca’t away. FOOTNOTES: [14] Bessie’s Well was not far from the foot of “Cuddie’s Lane.” The writer has been informed that the well was drained or filled up by operations connected with the formation of the railway. This ancient fountain, the destruction of which is to be deplored, had the traditional reputation of attaching all who drank of it with a lasting affection to the town of Lockerbie. [15] The existence of “closes mirk” in Lockerbie may be disputed; but the writer holds one or two in his recollection well suited to the taste of those who love the darkness rather than the light. [16] The town drummer and bellman, one of whose functions was to parade the streets, drumming the lieges of Lockerbie to bed at ten p.m., and out of bed at six a.m.—a custom which some thought “more honoured in the breach than the observance.” YAN O’ T’ ELECT. About five or six years ago a gentleman entered a station on one of our local railways, and found the worthy station master (whose original occupation was that of a small Cumberland farmer,) in a state of great excitement. He inquired the cause, and received a reply of which the following is a verbatim report, committed to paper immediately afterwards. We must premise that Dr. —— was a well known amateur preacher,—a really benevolent man, who did good in his way, but had no charity for the opinions of others, and was ever intruding his views and advice on all who came in contact with him, and believed all who differed from him destined to perdition. The extreme Calvinistic doctrine of election and reprobation was a perfect mania with him. On this occasion he was accompanied by his servant, a man of sleek aspect, who distributed tracts, etc., for his master.