AMONGST THE HEATHER. 35 



aspects of the Scotch nature, and the deep affection and 

 strength of will which underlie it. The fact seems to be that, 

 until the Union, the aggressive, prickly nature of the thistle only 

 too aptly symbolized the rough and warlike disposition of 

 Scotland. Few sentiments save patriotism found favour with 

 its people before the middle of the eighteenth century. They 

 took no thought of poetry or the refinements of life when the 

 sword was at their throats and their ears rang with denuncia- 

 tions of Stuart or Hanoverian. When this question was 

 definitely settled, and commerce took her place in peace upon 

 her throne, border feud and national animosity alike faded into 

 the emotional love of country and home, which finds its' 

 expression in so many beautiful ballads and songs, the slogan 

 being exchanged for those pathetic love-songs which are the 

 glory of Scotch literature. Then heather was twisted in many 

 a chaplet of song. Thus Thomas the Rhymer speaks of 



" Flodden's high and heathery side." 

 And the ballad of " King Henrie " runs 



"Oh, pu'd has he the green heather, 

 And made to her a bed ; " 



while it serves to heighten the pathos of "Faithless Donald" 



"When first ye climbed the heath'ry steep, 

 Wi' me to keep my father's sheep, 

 The vows ye made ye said ye'd keep ! " 



The " brown heath " was Scott's favourite plant, and naturally 

 occurs again and again in the Ettrick Shepherd's songs, 

 perhaps never more beautifully than in his exquisite poem to 

 the Skylark 



" Then when the gloaming comes, 



Low in the heather brooms, 

 Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be ! " 



In prose no one has emphasised its cheerful appearance and 



