Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By Marguerite ElizabethEaster

898 My Laddie’s Hounds

THEY are my laddie’s hounds

That rin the wood at brak o’ day.

Wha is it taks them hence? Can ony say

Wha is it taks my laddie’s hounds

At brak o’ day?

They cleek aff thegither,

An’ then fa’ back, wi’ room atween

For ane to walk; sae aften, I hae seen

The baith cleek aff thegither

Wi’ ane atween!

And when toward the pines

Up yonder lane they loup alang,

I see ae bonnie laddie brent and strang,

I see ae laddie loup alang

Toward the pines.

I follow them, in mind,

Ilk time; right weel I ken the way,—

They thrid the wood, an’ speel the staney brae,

An’ skir the field; I follow them,

I ken the way.

They daddle at the creek,

Whaur down fra aff the reaching-logs

I stoup, wi’ my dear laddie, an’ the dogs,

An’ drink o’ springs that spait the creek

Maist to the logs.

He ’s but a bairn, atho’

He hunts the mountain’s lonely bree,

His doggies’ ears abune their brows wi’ glee

He ties; he ’s but a bairn, atho’

He hunts the bree.

Fu’ length they a’ stretch out

Upon ae bink that green trees hap

In shade. He whusslits saft; the beagles nap

Wi’ een half shut, a’ stretchin’ out

Whaur green trees hap.

And noo he fades awa’

Frae ’tween the twa—into the blue.

My sight gats blind; gude Lord, it isna true

That he has gane for aye, awa’—

Into the blue!

They are my laddie’s hounds

That mak the hill at fa’ o’ day

Wi’ dowie heads hung laigh; can ony say

Wha is it hunts my laddie’s hounds

Till fa’ o’ day?