Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
LINES TO LOCH NESS.
Mirror of grey rock and heather,
Sombre pine, and silver rill ;
Deeply set ainid the mountains,
In my heart set deeper still.
New to me were earth and ocean,
Emerald held and azure sky.
When I first beheld thy waters
With a child's delighted eye.
When the shining wave-washed pebli'
Scattered o'er thy silver sands,
Were to me of eqiial value
To the gems of other lands.
O the joys when thou didst later
Unto me thy charms unfold,
Radiant beauty, youth eternal,
ISIid the mountains stern and old.
When I saw thy tranquil waters
Sparkling like a Held of gems.
And the lights and shadows gliding
(1'er the wild surrounding bens,
And I listened to the songsters
Of the woods upon thy side.
Blend their tuneful morning carols
With the music of thy tide.
Till my inmost being echoed
Every note of the sweet tune,
\nd I felt the feathered songsters.
Thou fair bike, and 1 were one.
When I saw the .shadows gather
On Mealfourvonie's grey crest,
And the setting sun bis glory
Shed upon tliy jewcl'd breast.
Till thy far extending waters
Seemed a shining crystal way.
From the land of cloud and shadow
To the realms of Endless Day.
Since, on other shores I've wandered
Till my locks are turning grey.
And the loved ones of my childhood
One by one have passed away.
But I often look in fancy
On thy sky-retlecting tide.
And the fragrant pines and birches
Waving gently on thy side.
And in dreams J gather pebbles
On thy wave-washed silver strand.
And the guardian of my childhood
Again takes me by the hand.
And we wander, and we wander.
Hand in hand along thy shores.
Till we part where sleep my fathers
In the old churchyard of Dores.
iel I Herts. AniIUS M.\CKINT0.SH.
A HIGHLAND FUNERAL.
Solemnly, solemnly, solennily.
With measured steps and slow.
The clansmen tread their native heath.
Hearts mourning as they go.
Solemnly, solennily, solemnly.
The pibroch's wailing strain
Falls i)lainti\-e on each mountain rock,
And echoes back again.
Solemnly, solemnly, solemnly,
They wind o'er plain and liill.
Bound for the little sleeping place.
Where death must have his fill.
Solemnly, solemnly, solemnly,
Along they bear his prey.
Each footstep weighted as with lead.
On that sad, joyless day.
Solemnly, solennily, solemnly.
The plaided clansmen go,
The bird for them refrains his scream.
O'er silent Bealnani-bo.
No vain lament the bearers made,
Around the mountain grave.
They trusted in the Saviour's grace.
Who came men's souls to save.
Only the bagpipe's sounding swell.
Bore our last parting strain,
Bidding for them our fond adieu.
Then homeward trod again.
T. H. M,