Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

THE CELTIC :\rAGAZINE.
23i
TlK'ir lives liis life to save.
Sad tliouglits that night were with the Cliief,
But tliesG the people could not know —
They only knew that no relief,
Came to their utter woe.
Our fate Avas fixed, the deed was done,
Nor Cliief nor factor could repeal ; —
"NYe Avandered on — that setting sun
Sank o'er Loch-Linnhe and Lochiel,
As we that night, on cold sli:".re bare,
Encamped beneath the frosty air.
To all who Avould Avere crofts assigned^
Small, meagre crofts of moory lea —
"Within this narrow marge confined,
-EetAveen the mountains and the sea.
But all the strong, ayIio Avould not brook,
That day of ruin and rebuke —
Whose sturdy souls could not endure.
To sink doAvn 'mid the helpless poor.
They spurned the crofts, and launched away,
To seek neAV homes in Canada —
The floAver of all the glens they bore,
UnAvilliug to that unknoAvn shore,
Hearts Avarm Avith Highland love and lore,
There Avith home-yearnings sad to beat,
Such hearts as here no more we meet.
X.
But we — our parents all too frail,
Too overdone Avith age to sail
On that far voyage — Avere constrained,
To take the refuge that remained
Hard by, and on this croft to raise
A rooftree o'er their latest days.
Xot long they needed it — soon they found;
A surer shelter, safely laid
Within yon ancient kirkyard ground,
'Neath the old beech trees' shade.
Wliile Ave, poor remnant, left behind.
Like the last leaves Avhidi autumn Avind,
Spares when it strips the forest bare —
We still to poor Lochaber cling,
Content if ceaseless toil and care.
Scant living from these rocks may AVring.
Confined to this lean strip of shore.
The mountains free to range no more,
All gone — our goats and bonny kye.
That wei'e so bounteous to supply
Alike the children's Avants and ouiB j