The ploughman is pleased when he gleans in his train, When all the gay scenes of the summer are o'er, While spring's lovely season, serene, dewy, warm, I confess I admire the gossiping ballad verse of Alexander Wilson much more than I do his purer and more ambitious strains. The description of the blue bird is very graphic, and the picture of American nature is very accurate, but his Caledonian scenes of riotous enjoyment are far superior. A man who reads "Watty and Meg" cannot miss to hear the mirth of the changehouse, and the clamour of Meg's uncontrollable tongue, for a full week after. Wilson has scattered much curious and instructive lore over the pages of his "American Ornithology," a scarce, a beautiful, and an unfinished work, of which I lament my inability to obtain a copy; and I have cause to lament, for I understand its pages are studded with songs of a very sweet and peculiar kind. JOHN OF BADENYON. When first I came to be a man I thought myself a handsome youth, In best attire I stept abroad, With spirits brisk and gay, And here and there, and everywhere, Was like a morn in May; No care had I, no fear of want, But rambled up and down, And for a beau I might have pass'd I still was pleased where'er I went, I tuned my pipe, and pleased myself זי Now in the days of youthful prime For love, I heard, gave one an air, On Phillis fair, above the rest, To Cupid now, with hearty prayer, I offer'd many a vow, And danced and sung, As other lovers do; and sigh'd and swore, But when at last I breathed my flame, I found her cold as stone I left the jilt, and tuned my pipe When love had thus my heart beguiled A friend I got by lucky chance, And now, whatever might betide, In any strait I knew to whom I freely might apply: A strait soon came-my friend I tried- Methought I should be wiser next, And praised their noble zeal, I found myself betray'd; For all the stir they made. I cursed them all, and tuned my pipe What next to do I mused a while, Still hoping to succeed, I pitch'd on books for company, And gravely tried to read; I bought and borrow'd every where, Nor miss'd what dean or doctor wrote, And carefully, through many a page, A thousand various schemes I tried, And now ye youngsters everywhere, What you may fancy pleasure here Is but an empty name, And dames, and friends, and books also, Then be advised, and warning take From such a man as me, I'm neither pope nor cardinal, Nor one of high degree; You'll meet displeasure everywhere Then do as I have done, E'en tune your pipe, and please yourselves With John of Badenyon. |