Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 4, 1896

so THE OELTIO MONTHLY
MY NATIVE SHORE.
(WITH A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR.)
My foot is on my native shore,
Once more by God's benign decree,
And pleasant sure it is once more
My long-loved native shore to see ;
Though other shores that I have known,
More fertile fields may justly claim,
Where fairer flowers and fruits are grown.
Yet atill to me they're not the same.
But only dull and tame.
A world of wealth could never change
My fondness for my native land.
Which neither glory could estrange.
Nor yet misfortune's ruthless hand ;
For meaner passions come and go.
And one by one they cease to please.
While deeper currents gently flow,
Unchanged by either calm or breeze,
And stronger far than these.
What though the clime be wild and cold,
Though clouds surround the mountain side.
What though the. snows of Winter fold
The rugged landscape far and wide ;
Ask of the eagle of the hill,
Would he prefer the lowland plain,
And he would answer loud and slirill,
Could he the gift of speech obtain,
In undisguised disdain.
I've wandered far through South and North,
And roamed at random East and West,
But yet 'mong many lands of worth,
My own by far I deem the best ;
Though true, indeed, that others may
Be rightly reckoned grand and fine.
Yet still, however grand and gay,
However bright their beauties shine.
They're not to me — like mine.
Let swarthy sons of swarthy lands
Lie languid under balmy shades,
I envy not their sultry strands.
Nor love their dusky heathen maids ;
For, truth to tell, their dingy hue
Upon my senses soon would pall.
Nor have I seen one fair to view.
Nor beauty who among them all.
Could lead my heart in thrall.
Give me the bracing mountain breeze,
And not the fever-stricken plain.
For I abjure the vile disease
That saps the life with secret bane ;
Then let them have their sunny clime.
And pestilence in simple fee,
While I in peace would spend my time,
Along the heath with footsteps free,
Beside the blue lone sea.
Full many a yea,r has passed away,
Since first I left my native shore.
And dark has since been tinged with grey,
While many a friend is now no mora ;
On every shore beneath the inn.
Where'er on earth the wild winds blow,
There lies the dust of more than one.
That I was wont full well to know.
In days of long ago.
The ocean wide contains the bones
Of many more than I can tell,
Whose fate has filled with tears and groans
The hearths and homes they loved so well ;
For not in life's fast fading eve.
Were they ordained in peace to die.
But doomed in youth, without reprieve.
Among the raging waves to lie.
Through regions far and nigh.
They're gone, and few are left behind
On shores where they were born and bred,
And so I often call to mind
Soft memories of the bygone dead ;
And tears unbidden sometimes rise,
As I look back through joy and pain.
And seem to see before my eyes
Their form and presence, clear andplain.
Appear in life again.
Ah, yes, they're dead — the scenes alone
Are all that now remains to me,
And yet I love each rock and stone,
'Bove all the lands beyond the sea ;
And though I cannot climb the crest, *■
Nor scale the mountains as of yore,
Yet still I wish them all be blest,
And hail with tender love once more,
My own dear native shore !
In 1890 the author of this song, in two days, climbed
the Volcano Popocatepetl, 18,000 feet, the highest
mountain on the whole North-American Continent,
and within three or four thousand feet of the
highest climb ever made.
J. MacGrbgor, M.D.,
I.oiuion. Surgeon-Major.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR.
A SUGGESTION.
To The Editor, Celtic Monthly.
Sir — Will you kindly grant me space to put
before your readers an idea, which I am convinced
would, if carried out, not only be of individual
benefit, but give stimulus and consolidation to the
whole Celtic movement. The scheme is this : —
The formation of a band of Highland brotherhood,
as far as possible in all parts of the world, whereby
Highlanders desiring knowledge respecting any
district, or going to reside therein, could apply to
the nearest brother thereto for information and
advice. As Ilit^hlanders are generally poor, this
would be a very cheap and ett'ective method of
helping one another. Personally, I shall be very
glad to undertake the ofiice for this district, or
even county. A list of those willing to lo act
90uld be printsd quarterly, or other periods as you
consider best, in the Celtic Monthly.
I am, etc.,
Karr Lodge, I'ovtm: A. "MACKINTOSH.