80 



" of an amusement and a recreation, administered a secret but 

 " powerful balm in the one case, and an antidote in the other : 

 " this resource is afforded by the influences of Poetry." 



Mr. Bloxam then produced, commenting on them shortly 

 as he proceeded, several pieces of considerable merit in them- 

 selves, and evidencing future excellence in the writers, who 

 were mostly anonymous. As illustrations, may be adduced 

 the following. " The bonnie, bonnie bairn" is extracted from 

 the " Gaberlunzie," a serial which appeared in Edinburgh a 

 few years since, and in winch there has been some exquisite 

 poetry : — 



THE BONNIE, BONNIE BAIRN. 



The bonnie, bonnie bairn, wha sits poking in the ase, 

 Glowerin' in the fire wi' his wee round face; 

 Laughin' at the fnffin lowe, what sees he there ; 

 Ha ! the young dreamer's biggin castles in the air 



His wee chubby face, an' his touzie curly pow 

 Are laughin' au' noddin' to the dancin' lowe ; 

 He'll brown his rosy cheeks, an' singe his sunny hair, 

 Glowerin' at the imps wi' their castles in the air. 



He sees muckle castles towering to the moon, 

 He sees little sodgers puiu' them a' doun ; 

 Warlds whombling up an' doun, bleezin' wi' a flare, 

 See how he loups, as they glimmer in the iiir. 



For a' sae sage he looks, what can the laddie ken ? 

 He's thinkin' upon naething, like mony mighty men ; 

 A wee thing maks us think, a sma' tiling maks us stare — 

 There are mair folk than him biggin castles in the air. 



Sic a night in winter may weel mak him cauld ; 

 His chin upon his bufly hand will soon mak him auld; 

 His brow is brent so braid, O pray that daddy Care 

 Wad let the wean alane, wi' his castles in the air. 



Hell glower at the fire, an' he'll keek at the light; 

 But mony sparkling stars are swallowed up by night ; 

 Aulder een than his are glamoured by a glare, 

 Hearts are broken — heads are turn'd, wi' castles in the air. 



