JAMES AFFLECK. THE "Posthumous Poetical Works" of James Affleck, tailor in Biggar, with a memoir of his life by his son, were published at Edinburgh in 1836. Affleck was born in the village of Drummelzier, in Peeblesshire, on the 8th September 1776. His education was scanty; and after some years' occupation as a cowherd, he was apprenticed to a tailor in his native village. He afterwards prose cuted his trade in the parish of Crawfordjohn, and in the town of Ayr. In 1793, he established himself as master tailor in Biggar. Fond of society, he joined the district lodge of freemasons, and became a leading member of that fraternity. He composed verses for the entertainment of his friends, which he was induced to give to the world in two separate publications. He possessed considerable poetical talent, but his compositions are generally marked by the absence of refinement. The song selected for the present work is the most happy effort in his posthumous volume. His death took place at Biggar, on the 8th September 1835. HOW BLEST WERE THE DAYS! How blest were the days o' langsyne when a laddie! Whiles croonin' my sonnet amang the whin bushes, Whiles whistling wi' glee as I pou'd the green rashes; The whim o' the moment kept me aye frae sorrow, What I wanted at night was in prospect to-morrow. The nest o' a lintie I fondly explored, And plundering bykes was the game I adored; Yet I always found something that pleased when a laddie. The boy with great pleasure the butterfly chases; When manhood approaches, the maid he embraces; But view him at once baith the husband and daddie, He fondly looks back to the joys o' a laddie. When childhood was over my prospects were greater, But now I'm grown auld, and wi' cares I'm perplex'd, JAMES STIRRAT. JAMES STIRRAT was born in the village of Dalry, Ayrshire, on the 28th March 1781. His father was owner of several houses in the place, and was employed in business as a haberdasher. Young Stirrat was educated at the village school; in his 17th year, he composed verses which afforded some indication of power. Of a delicate constitution, he accepted the easy appointment of village postmaster. He died in March 1843, in his sixty-second year. Stirrat wrote much poetry, but never ventured on a publication. Several of his songs appeared at intervals in the public journals, the "Book of Scottish Song," and the "Contemporaries of Burns.” The latter work contains a brief sketch of his life. left a considerable number of MSS., which are now in the possession of a relative in Ayr. Possessed of a knowledge of music, he excelled in playing many of the national airs on the guitar. His dispositions were social, yet in society he seldom talked; among his associates, he frequently expressed his hope of posthumous fame. He was enthusiastic in his admiration of female beauty, but died unmarried. He HENRY.* AIR-"Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch." CAN my dearest Henry leave me? That bids him thus forsake and grieve me? Can he the hours of love forget, The stolen hours I'll mind for ever, My dearest laddie sae would grieve me. And will he then me aye forsake? Must I for ever, ever lose him? Never could this heart deceive thee, And sae wi' cruel absence grieve me? * This song and that following are printed from the original MSS. MARY.* "IN life's gay morn," when hopes beat high, Nae joys beneath the vaulted sky, The sacred hours like moments flew, My ain dear Mary; Nae gloomy cares my soul e'er knew Young fancy spread her visions gay, The flowers of Eden strew'd the way But life is now a dreary waste, She's gane to seats o' blissfu' rest, * This song was set to music by R. A. Smith. |