AND ANGLING SONGS. 35 I 



THE OTTER. 



i. 



A JOLLY life the otter leads 

 That lurks by Eden Water ; 

 He has nothing to do but frisk about 

 And take his pick of the eels and trout 



That revel at dusk among the weeds, 

 The dainty old thief of an otter ! 



ii. 



Below the mill at Stichel Linn, 

 I met the miller's daughter ; 

 Her cheek it was pallid with affright ; 

 But when she told me of a sprite 



With rounding eye and demon grin, 

 I recognised the otter. 



in. 



Now hie thee home, my timid girl, 

 And dream away thy flutter ! 

 We '11 up betimes the morrow's morn, 

 Before the throstle heads the thorn, 



Or from its nest the joking squirrel 

 Plays bo-peep with the otter. 



IV. 



We '11 up betimes at break of day, 

 With hounds well versed in slaughter, 

 As fleet and musical a pack 

 As ever cross'd the valley's track, 



And splash'd and dash'd, from bank to brae, 

 A-hunting of the otter. 



