594 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



O Scotland ! much I love tliy tranquil dales; 

 But most on Sabbath eve, \vhcn low the sun 

 Slants through the upland copse, 'tis my delight, 

 Wandering, and stopping oft, to hear the song 

 Of kindred pr.iisc arise Irom humble roofs j 

 Or, when the simple service ends, to hear 

 The lifted latch, and mark the a;rey-haired man, 

 The father and the priest, valk forth alone 

 Into his gar«t(-n-plat, or little rield, 

 To commune with his God in secret prayer — 

 To bless the Lord, that in his dovrnward years 

 Mis children are about him : Sweet, nieaiitimCj 

 The thrush, tiiat sines upon the aged tliorn, 

 Brings to his view the days of youthful years, 

 When that same aged thorn was but a hiish. 

 Nor is the contrast between youth and age 

 To him a painful thought ; he joys to think 

 His journey near a clobc, — heaven is his home. 

 More happy far that man, though bowed down, 

 Though feeble be his gnit, and dim his eye, 

 Than they, the favourites of }outh and health. 

 Of riches, and of fame, who have renounced 

 The glorious promise of the life to conic, — 

 Clinging to death. 



Or mark that female face, 

 The fadfd picture c its former self, — 

 The garments coarse, but clean ; — frequent at church 

 I've noted such a one, feeble and pale, 

 Yet standing, with a look of mild content. 

 Till beckoned by some kindly hand to sit. 

 She has seen better days ; there was a time, 

 Her hands rould earn her bread, and freely give 

 To those who were in want ; but now old age, 

 And lingering disease, have made her helpless. 

 Yet is she happy, aye, and she is wise, 

 (Philosophers may sneer, and pedants frown,) 

 Although her Bible is her only book : 

 And she is rich, although her only wealth 

 Is recollection of a well-spent life — 

 Is expectation of the life to come. 

 Examine here, explore the narrow path 

 In which she walks ; look not for virtuous deeds 

 In history's arena, where (he prize 

 Of fame, or power, prompts to heroic acts. 

 Peruse the lives themselves of men obscure :— • 

 There charity, that robs itself to give ; 

 There fortitude in sickness, nursed by want ; 

 There courage, that expects no tongue'to praise; 



There 



