| |
| THEY are my laddie’s hounds | |
| That rin the wood at brak o’ day. | |
| Wha is it taks them hence? Can ony say | |
| Wha is it taks my laddie’s hounds | |
| At brak o’ day? | 5 |
| |
| They cleek aff thegither, | |
| An’ then fa’ back, wi’ room atween | |
| For ane to walk; sae aften, I hae seen | |
| The baith cleek aff thegither | |
| Wi’ ane atween! | 10 |
| |
| And when toward the pines | |
| Up yonder lane they loup alang, | |
| I see ae bonnie laddie brent and strang, | |
| I see ae laddie loup alang | |
| Toward the pines. | 15 |
| |
| I follow them, in mind, | |
| Ilk time; right weel I ken the way,— | |
| They thrid the wood, an’ speel the staney brae, | |
| An’ skir the field; I follow them, | |
| I ken the way. | 20 |
| |
| They daddle at the creek, | |
| Whaur down fra aff the reaching-logs | |
| I stoup, wi’ my dear laddie, an’ the dogs, | |
| An’ drink o’ springs that spait the creek | |
| Maist to the logs. | 25 |
| |
| He ’s but a bairn, atho’ | |
| He hunts the mountain’s lonely bree, | |
| His doggies’ ears abune their brows wi’ glee | |
| He ties; he ’s but a bairn, atho’ | |
| He hunts the bree. | 30 |
| |
| Fu’ length they a’ stretch out | |
| Upon ae bink that green trees hap | |
| In shade. He whusslits saft; the beagles nap | |
| Wi’ een half shut, a’ stretchin’ out | |
| Whaur green trees hap. | 35 |
| |
| And noo he fades awa’ | |
| Frae ’tween the twa—into the blue. | |
| My sight gats blind; gude Lord, it isna true | |
| That he has gane for aye, awa’— | |
| Into the blue! | 40 |
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| They are my laddie’s hounds | |
| That mak the hill at fa’ o’ day | |
| Wi’ dowie heads hung laigh; can ony say | |
| Wha is it hunts my laddie’s hounds | |
| Till fa’ o’ day? | 45 |
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