Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/417



The poisoned shafts that malice throws O'er harmless pastime slide, While honest worth an' cheerin' mirth Sit round the fireside. Our ain fireside, my friends, Our ain fireside; The warmest glow o' friendship's flame Shall heat the fireside.

On human worth by length of purse Let worldly slaves decide; The heart to share the world's care Aye heats the fireside. Our ain fireside, my friends, Our ain fireside; The sterling value o' the heart Aye gilds the fireside.

Through rocks and sands to distant lands The sailor wanders wide, In hopes to shield his crazy eild By couthy fireside. The couthy fireside, my friends, The couthy fireside; Heaven send the lyart pow o' age A couthy fireside.

'Tis Heaven that nerves the soldier's arm The battle's heat to bide; He boldly dares the fiercest foe To shield his fireside. His ain fireside, my friends, His country's fireside; Would ye but warm a coward's heart?— Insult his fireside.

Gi'e luxury her painted domes, Her palaces gi'e pride; But be my lot a snug warm cot And canty fireside. A canty fireside, my friends, A canty fireside; Be aye my lot a snug warm cot And canty fireside.

When bairnies brattlin round our knees On chairs and stoolies ride, What joy heaves up a parent's heart To see his fireside.