26 REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1899 



The Tower is still an interesting fragment of a Border 

 Peel, and now consists of two walls and indications of a 

 third, while the fourth has been entirely obliterated. It 

 stands on a knoll among ash trees, surrounded on all sides 

 by Corsbie Bog. Before the bog was drained the knoll 

 would be practically an island, and inaccessible except >"y a 

 narrow paved way on the north side. The President briefly 

 described some of the salient features of the ruin, and Mr 

 Gunn then proceeded to read a ballad entitled " The Grey 

 Peel," "which," he said, "so well reproduces the character- 

 istics of ancient Border poetry that it is mistaken by many 

 for a genuine old ballad. Additional interest is attached to 

 it from the fact that it is the production of the President 

 of the Club (Mr Small), who has enriched Border minstrelsy 

 by various poetical contributions of high merit." The ballad 

 is as follows : — 



Auld Wat o' the Grey Peel's dochter May, 

 Perfection's maiden in form and mien, 



Wi' face as bricht as a summer day, 

 I' the Grey Peel Glen nae mair is seen. 



There's naething bat grief within the wa's. 

 Thereout there's dool 'mong women and men. 



And ruefu's the strain o' the wind that blaws 



Through the shiverin' leaves i' the Grey Peel Glen. 



Wi' frolicksome step i' the morning bright 

 She brent her way to the Merlindean ; 



Where voices wail i' the darksome night, 

 Or wildly laugh i' the moonlight sheen. 



But the eerie glen i' the light o' day 



Revealed but charms to her laughin' een ; 



And the sunbright inorn that wiled her away 



Brought a dreary night, for nae mair she's seen. 



Right ready o' help frae the Smailcleugh fit, 

 Stern Ringan has Sown to the sad Grey Peel ; 



Unpeered he stands i' the forest yet. 

 For a trusty hand and a bitin' steel. 



