A Highland Boy!-why call him so? Because, my Darlings, ye must know, In land where many a mountain towers, Far higher hills than these of ours! He from his birth had liv'd. He ne'er had seen one earthly sight; Or fish in stream, or bird in bower, And yet he neither drooped nor pined, For God took pity on the Boy, him joy Of which we nothing know. His Mother, too, no, doubt, above Her other Children him did love: For, was she here, or was she there, She thought of him with constant care, And more than Mother's love. And proud she was of heart, when clad To Kirk he on the sabbath day Went hand in hand with her. A Dog, too, had he; not for need, But one to play with and to feed; Which would have led him, if bereft Of company or friends, and left Without a better guide. And then the bagpipes he could blow; And all were pleas'd to hear and see; Than did the poor blind Boy. go, Yet he had many a restless dream; Both when he heard the Eagles scream, And when he heard the torrents roar, And heard the water beat the shore Near which their Cottage stood. Beside a lake their Cottage stood, And stirring in its bed. For to this Lake, by night and day, And rivers large and strong: Then hurries back the road it came- And this for evermore will do, As long as earth shall last. And, with the coming of the Tide, And to the Shepherds with their Flocks Brings tales of distant Lands. And of those tales, what'eer they were, With warmer suns and softer gales; Yet more it pleased him, more it stirr❜d, When from the water-side he heard The shouting, and the jolly cheers, The bustle of the mariners In stillness or in storm. But what do his desires avail? For He must never handle sail'; Nor mount the mast, nor row, nor float In Sailor's ship or Fisher's boat Upon the rocking waves. |