THE MAGIC OF THE HEATHER. 



My Wee Bit Heather 



(On receiving a sprig of heather from the late William Milne, 

 of New York, with the remark: 



"Will ye to the Hielan's gang, 



Wi' a rantin', rovin' Hielan' man?") 



Oh! Willie mine, my heart is licht 



Since I hae read the words ye wrote; 

 As sunny day will be the nicht, 



Noo that I ken I'm nae forgot! 

 Fu' glad I am, this blessed day, 



We're a' in a' to ane anither; 

 But oh! it filled my heart wi' wae 



When first I saw yer wee bit heather. 



As clouds will shade a simmer sky, 



An' ower the day a shadow cast, 

 Sae auld lang syne cam' flittin' by, 



An' lichtly touched me as it passed. 

 I min* me o' the blithe, blithe time, 



Or ere I saw life's changefu' weather; 

 When a' I did was sit an' rhyme, 



An' idly pu' a wee bit heather. 



Beside a burnie, pure and cool, 



Sae bonnie broon f rae heathy screen : 

 Wi' here and there a deep, dark pool, 



An' noo an' then a patch o' green. 

 And then it rushed adoon the glen, 



As if to leave us a' thegither ; 

 But soon we fan' the witch again, 



And on her breast the wee bit heather. 

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