Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/417

The poisoned shafts that malice throws
O'er harmless pastime slide,
While honest worth an' cheerin' mirth
Sit round the fireside.
Our ain fireside, my friends,
Our ain fireside;
The warmest glow o' friendship's flame
Shall heat the fireside.

On human worth by length of purse
Let worldly slaves decide;
The heart to share the world's care
Aye heats the fireside.
Our ain fireside, my friends,
Our ain fireside;
The sterling value o' the heart
Aye gilds the fireside.

Through rocks and sands to distant lands
The sailor wanders wide,
In hopes to shield his crazy eild
By couthy fireside.
The couthy fireside, my friends,
The couthy fireside;
Heaven send the lyart pow o' age
A couthy fireside.

'Tis Heaven that nerves the soldier's arm
The battle's heat to bide;
He boldly dares the fiercest foe
To shield his fireside.
His ain fireside, my friends,
His country's fireside;
Would ye but warm a coward's heart?—
Insult his fireside.

Gi'e luxury her painted domes,
Her palaces gi'e pride;
But be my lot a snug warm cot
And canty fireside.
A canty fireside, my friends,
A canty fireside;
Be aye my lot a snug warm cot
And canty fireside.

When bairnies brattlin round our knees
On chairs and stoolies ride,
What joy heaves up a parent's heart
To see his fireside.