[fkaser] GAELIC FOLK-SONGS OF CANADA 59 



Eev, Donald Monro, Eev. F. J. MacLeod, Hugh MacColl, Archibald 

 MacKillop, A. Gordon, Alexander MacMillan, Hugh MacCorquodale, 

 Neil Clark, Mrs. Angus Ma*cKay, Mrs. McKenzie, Dr. J. MacLeod, 

 Donald Grant, Donald Campibell, D. MacFarlane, Angus Carmiohael 

 (author of " Venus of the Gael," etc.), James MacMaster, Miss Cath- 

 erine Cameron, Mrs. John MaoDonald. 



Quite recently, while on a visit in the county .of Bruce, I came 

 across a number of Gaelic songs composed by Mr. J. B. Macdonald, 

 a respected citizen of Tiverton, a specimen verse of which I shall tran- 

 scribe to show that patriotism and vitality still characterize the sons 

 of Ossian: 



O, 's ann a'n America a tha mi an dràsda, 



Fo dhùbihar na coille nach teirig g-u bràth, — 



'S'n uair dh' fhalbhas an dùbhlachd 'sa thionnd'as am blàths 



Bidih drisean 'us biùlan 's flùth'r orra fàs. 



Ach's truagh naoh robh mise 'n Tiridh mar bha, 

 Gred bhithinn gun sgilllinn dar ruiginn a.n traigh; 

 Bu shunndach a bhithinn 'n uair dh' eireadh an làn, 

 DoJ a dh' iarraidh nan siolag gu iochdar traigh-bhaigih. 



Tiridh mo dhridhe, Tiridh mo ghaoil, « 



Far am bithinn am mireag 'sa ruith air an raon', 

 'S bho 'na thug mi mo chùl ris do dhuthaich nan craobh, 

 'S e dh' fhag mi fo mhulad nach grunnaich mi 'n caol. 



The Gael had his " Golden Age," and it was an age of poetry. 

 Its traditions have floated down the centuries to our own times, and 

 are met with in popular songs, one of which may fitly close this 

 sketch : 



" Linn An Aigh " — " The Happy Age." 

 Translated: — 



Wlien all the Mrds in Gaelic sang, 



Milk lay like dew upon the lea; 

 The heather into honey sprang, 

 And everything was good and free. 



No tax or tribute used to fall 



On honest men, nor any rent; 

 To hunt and fish was free to all, 



And timber without price or stent. 



There was no discord, war or strife. 

 For none were wronged and none O'ppressed; 



But everyone just led the life 

 And did the thing that pleased him best. 



