Stray leaves from the portfolios of Alisander the seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle

200
NOTES.
‘ SONGS OF THE KIRK.’
The sayings and doings of the reverend actors in the Church
Extension and Non-intrusion dramas, are brought so much before
the public almost daily, that it would be a work of supererogation
to give any notes upon the subject. Only this we will say, if
these rev. gents, feel that Patronage is so dreadful an evil as they
say it is, let them, as honest men, cut all connection with that
church which gives it countenance. In short, if they will obey
the injunction, ‘ Come out of her, my people, that ye be not par¬
takers of her sins,’ then will we give them credit for their honesty
and sincerity, but not till then. But Dr Chalmers cries out
‘ Mind the Butter ;’ and Candlish, Cunningham, and Co., are de¬
termined to mind ‘the loaves and the fishes,’ as furnised by the
State.
THE INDIAN COTTAGER’S SONG.
It may not be improper here to remark, in reference to the
very pretty custom which prevails in India, alluded to in this
Song, of expressing the degree of affection of the lover for
his mistress, by means of various flowers; that courtships are
begun and even carried on by these emblematical tokens of the
heart. Poppies, for instance, express the sympathy which one
feels for the griefs of another. Tulips—hearts consuming them¬
selves with a hopeless passion. A rose-bud with its thorns be¬
speaks hope, mixed with many fears. If the lover’s first gift is
accepted, he finds the flowers watered and kept fresh by the
object of his affection, at his return next day. Thus encouraged,
he offers fresh proofs of the ardency of his attachment, by flowers
which convey still more expressive tokens of it than those at first
presented. If these, also, are favourably accepted, he finds them
watered and preserved as before ; and thus goes on until his suit
is fairly gained. But if it should be the fate of the hapless lover
to be rejected, the flowers are left to wither and to die.
‘ The Indian Cottager’s Song,’ and a number which follow it,
were formerly contributed by the Author to ‘ Whistlebinkie,’ a
neat little song book published by Mr David Robertson, Book¬
seller to her Majesty, and edited by the Author. A few Songs at
the end of the Work have never before been in print.
S. AND T. DUNN AND CO., PRINTERS, GLASGOW.