[83] A clerical friend has communicated to us the following stanza, which he heard sung by an old Highlander, as an addition to the "Braes o' Balquhither:"-- "While the lads of the south Toil for bare worldly treasure-- To the lads of the north Every day brings its pleasure: Oh, blithe are the joys That the Highlandman possesses, He feels no annoys, For he fears no distresses." GLOOMY WINTER 'S NOW AWA'. AIR--_"Lord Balgonie's Favourite."_ Gloomy winter 's now awa' Saft the westling breezes blaw, 'Mang the birks of Stanley-shaw, The mavis sings fu' cheery, O! Sweet the crawflower's early bell Decks Gleniffer's dewy dell, Blooming like thy bonny sel', My young, my artless dearie, O! Come, my lassie, let us stray O'er Glenkilloch's sunny brae, Blithely spend the gowden day, 'Midst joys that never weary, O! Towering o'er the Newton woods, Laverocks fan the snaw-white clouds, Siller saughs, wi' downy buds, Adorn the banks sae briery, O! Round the sylvan fairy nooks, Feath'ry breckans fringe the rocks, 'Neath the brae the burnie jouks, And ilka thing is cheery, O! Trees may bud, and birds may sing, Flowers may bloom, and verdure spring, Joy to me they canna bring, Unless wi' thee, my dearie, O! O! ARE YE SLEEPING, MAGGIE? AIR--_"Sleepy Maggie."_ O! Are ye sleeping, Maggie? O! are ye sleeping, Maggie? Let me in, for loud the linn Is roaring o'er the warlock craigie. Mirk and rainy is the night, No a starn in a' the carry;[84] Lightnings gleam athwart the lift, And winds drive wi' winter's fury. O! are ye sleeping, Maggie? &c. Fearful soughs the bourtree bank, The rifted wood roars wild and dreary, Loud the iron yate does clank, And cry of howlets makes me eerie. O! are ye sleeping, Maggie? &c. Aboon my breath I daurna' speak, For fear I rouse your waukrife daddie, Cauld 's the blast upon my cheek, O rise, rise, my bonny lady! O! are ye sleeping, Maggie? &c. She opt the door, she let him in, He cuist aside his dreeping plaidie: "Blaw your warst, ye rain and win', Since, Maggie, now I 'm in aside ye." Now, since ye 're waking, Maggie! Now, since ye 're waking, Maggie! What care I for howlet's cry, For bourtree bank, or warlock craigie? [84] This expression commonly means, the direction in which the clouds are carried by the wind, but it is here used to denote the firmament. NOW WINTER, WI' HIS CLOUDY BROW. AIR--_"Forneth House."_