SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 33 



the affection of his youth. When prostrate with 

 illness during his Glasgow visit, he wrote to his 

 friends at Lessudden, that if he died they were to 

 bring his body to St Boswells churchyard, and lay 

 it beside his Nannie. The sad duty alluded to in 

 the closing stanza fell to be performed by John, his 

 wife's death having preceded his own by several 

 years. 



There may be sweeter spots afar 



That I have never seen, 

 And lofty towers and rivers clear 



With flowery vales between : 

 And fairer faces too may grace 



The garden and the hall : 

 But there's a place, and there's a face 



That's dearest of them all. 



And O ! our cradle spot of earth 



Where light first took our e'e, 

 And mother's love our infant heart 



Where'er that spot may be : 

 Tho' it were even slavery's soil 



And we got free to rove, 

 Yet wander how or where we will, 



'Twill claim our latest love. 



The swallow dreams on Afric's shore 



of Scotia's summer pride ; 

 And plumes her wing, and knows her hour 



To hasten to Tweedside. 

 The cliff or skaur she kens afar, 



And towering ruins grey, 

 Where she was nursed in Dryburgh's bower, 



The lap of flowery May. 



