University of Virginia Library

II. Part II.

Smithy as before. Later evening. Smith. Hugh. Three Ploughmen. Outside at half-door, a Tall Stranger, with a half-ell beard, leading a Saddle-horse.
Tall Stranger
—Who owns this hole? Holloa there—you!
Blacksmith or blackguard!

Smith
— What's ado?

Hugh
—It's him! it's Geordie!

Tall St.
— Horse to shoe!
And look out—there's 't!
(Quoiting in the iron.)

Smith
—Man, folk hae time to dicht their mou'
I' th' heat o' hairst!
Ca' in your naig! (Enter Tall Stranger.)

Hugh
— It's Maister Sym!
Noo, blacksmith, say 't!

Smith
— Hughie, it's him!
'Faith, sir, ye come in ither trim
Than ance I've kent ye—

Sym
—That's years ago!

Smith
— —lang, lowse, an' slim!
Ay, sir, it's twenty!

Sym
—Twenty?—a hundred! You don't know
How much your country clock's gone slow.
Well, Hugh? What is't to be then? Go?
Or stay and sterve here?
“Ay” means—well, look at me! And “no,”
For ever serve here.
I leave, and soon; and not again
To seek old Scotland o'er the main;
My home's on yon Australian plain,
My hopes are yonder;
Why, man, a county breadth's my ain—
What needs your wonder?
What has old Scotland done for me?

Hugh
—At least she ga'e ye brains.

Sym
— May be!

Hugh
—An' banes; an' bu'k.

Sym
— Na—that's a lee,
The hin'most half o't!
The shank she ga'e me for a thie,
I made a staff o't!
Well, and what else? No more, I trow,
But hip-room on a thistly knowe,
Or scartin' rocks ahint a plow,
For a rich neighbour—
Out yonder, lads, there's room to grow,
An' wealth for labour!
Take my advice—ye'll ne'er repent it;
Your country's yonder if ye kent it;
There's Burn-the-wind—he's nearhand faintit
Ca'in' a shoe on!
At his age yonder—

Smith
— He's contentit;
Be joggin' you on!
There stands your naig.

Sym (giving silver)
— And there's your pay.
So, Hughie, you elect to stay—
Well, wilful man will have his way.
Good-bye—but think on't.

(Mounts and rides off.)
Smith
(looking into his loof)
— A croon!

1st Pl.
— He rides a bonnie gray.

Smith
— We'se ha'e a drink on't!

(Boy at bellows despatched with pig.)

2nd Pl.
—He'd gar ye troo it was a wrang
To breathe in Scotland.

3rd Pl.
(to Hugh)
— Will ye gang?

Hugh
—I've lo'ed auld Scotland far owre lang,
Heart-thirled till her!
An' what's the gospel o' his sang
But only siller?
Na, na! that wasna in the plan,
That's no' the great chief end o' man,
It's no' get a' the gear ye can
An' syne content ye;
But lift what's lyin' to your han'—
Aneu's a plenty.
As sweet to me amang the knowes,
Whaur Devon's caller current rows,
To lead the lambs an' ca' the yowes
As to commaund them;
As sweet to view the hechts an' howes
As if I awn'd them.
Nae fairer warl' I wuss to view,
Nae loftier path wad I pursue,
Nae trustier friends than you, an' you,
I care to hae;
An' here I wad gang slippin' thro',
E'en as I dae.