ERCILDOUNE — THOMAS THE RHYMER. 139 



curious old song, by some one who called himself 

 " Minstrel Burn," which Sir Walter Scott was fond of 

 quoting — 



" Sing Ercildoune and Cowdenknowes, 

 Where Homes had ance commanding. 

 And Drygrange wi' the milk white ewes, 

 'Twixt Tweed and Leader standing. 

 ♦ # * * 



For many a place stands in hard case, 

 "Where blythe folks kent nae sorrow, 



Wi' Homes that dwelt on Leader side. 

 And Scotts that dwelt on Yarrow." 



The bare high knoll that you see standing to the 

 south-east of Earlston is Sandyknowe, where Scott 

 was brought up, and on it are the remains of Smail- 

 holm Tower, the scene of his ballad of " The Eve of 

 St. John." 



-g»^?8i:^J^ 



