226 Old Bays on the Farm 



"thinking back" as nothing else will, to hear an 

 old song and it may be as Shelley said, ' * Our sweet- 

 est songs are those that tell of saddest thought." 

 It is noteworthy that many of the songs of ear- 

 lier days were pitched in a mournful key and 

 often invited attention to death and the grave. 



SOME OLD FAVOXIBITES 



There was that pathetic ballad of "Gentle An- 

 nie," the refrain of which ran: 



"Shall I never more behold thee? 

 Never hear thy winning voice again? 

 Thou wilt come no more, Gentle Annie, 

 ^heu the wild flowers blossom o'er the plain." 



And "Annie Lisle," the words of which are no 

 longer heard, although the Salvation Army keeps 

 the tune alive. The refrain of this ran : 



"Wave willows, murmur water, 

 Golden sunbeams smile, 

 Earthly music cannot waken 

 Lovely Annie Lisle." 



"Rosalie, the Prairie Flower" was another old- 

 time favourite full of sadness: 



"On the distant prairie, when the heather wild 

 In its quiet beauty lived and smiled, 

 Stands a little cottage and a creeping vine 

 Loves around its porch to climb. 



