Effie Ha',
The farmer gied his merry kirn, wi' a' a farmer's pride,
An' youngsters gathered to the barn frae a' the kintra side,
A wheen o' gallant chiels were there, wi' faces sun embrowned,
An' hearts as noble and as gay as e'er 'mangst gran' anes found;
The lasses, busked in their best, were bonnie, blythe, and braw,
But fairest was the farmer's bairn, the winsome Effie Ha'.
An' youngsters gathered to the barn frae a' the kintra side,
A wheen o' gallant chiels were there, wi' faces sun embrowned,
An' hearts as noble and as gay as e'er 'mangst gran' anes found;
The lasses, busked in their best, were bonnie, blythe, and braw,
But fairest was the farmer's bairn, the winsome Effie Ha'.
Her hair by nature's haun was waved like ripples o' a stream,
An' glitter'd like the liquid surf beneath Sol's gouden beam;
Through fringes dark her laughing e'en shone with attemper'd ray,
But wooers said a wicked spark ben in their azure lay:
For though she was aye kind an' free, whene'er o' luve they spoke,
The wily teaser laughen aye took a' as't were a joke.
An' glitter'd like the liquid surf beneath Sol's gouden beam;
Through fringes dark her laughing e'en shone with attemper'd ray,
But wooers said a wicked spark ben in their azure lay:
For though she was aye kind an' free, whene'er o' luve they spoke,
The wily teaser laughen aye took a' as't were a joke.
Noo' many a secret hope rose high as Effie joined the dance,
An' wi' her captivatin' smile met every wistfu' glance.
The lassies cast a jealous e'e upon the winsome queen,
Aye as they caught her floating form an' tresses gouden sheen.
But quite unconscious o' it a' noo' free she ca's the crack.
Wi' a puir wand'rin' fiddler chiel, wha ca'd to win a plack.
An' wi' her captivatin' smile met every wistfu' glance.
The lassies cast a jealous e'e upon the winsome queen,
Aye as they caught her floating form an' tresses gouden sheen.
But quite unconscious o' it a' noo' free she ca's the crack.
Wi' a puir wand'rin' fiddler chiel, wha ca'd to win a plack.
Some siller in his loof she placed, an' wished him muckle mair,
Then wi' a partner rose again to lichtly trip the flair.
The fiddler carle embaulden'd seemed by Effie's hamely ways,
For soon his fiddle silent lay enveloped in its baze,
An' steppin' to braw Tibbie Grey, he saught her out to dance,
But, sirs, the warld o' stern disdain she threw him in her glance.
Then wi' a partner rose again to lichtly trip the flair.
The fiddler carle embaulden'd seemed by Effie's hamely ways,
For soon his fiddle silent lay enveloped in its baze,
An' steppin' to braw Tibbie Grey, he saught her out to dance,
But, sirs, the warld o' stern disdain she threw him in her glance.
He turned awa' wi' courage left to try anither fair;
A titter at his impudence was a' his answer there.
But no a partner could he get, though mony mair he tried,
When Effie, wi' a glowin' cheek, wi' anger at their pride,
Stepp'd up an' said, whilst on her face his gratefu glances fell,
"Gin ye tak' me for your partner, lad, I'll dance wi' you mysel'."
A titter at his impudence was a' his answer there.
But no a partner could he get, though mony mair he tried,
When Effie, wi' a glowin' cheek, wi' anger at their pride,
Stepp'd up an' said, whilst on her face his gratefu glances fell,
"Gin ye tak' me for your partner, lad, I'll dance wi' you mysel'."
An' gracefully he took her haun, mid a' the whisper'd jeers
O' Effie's humble-mindedness, that ever reached their ears.
An' weel the fiddlin' carle seemed skilled in step, an turn, an' haze,
He tripp'd the flair as tho' t' had been his business a' his days;
An' gracefw, when the dance was o'er, he led the lass awa',
An' bade guid nicht, wi' gratefu thanks, to bonnie Effie Ha'.
O' Effie's humble-mindedness, that ever reached their ears.
An' weel the fiddlin' carle seemed skilled in step, an turn, an' haze,
He tripp'd the flair as tho' t' had been his business a' his days;
An' gracefw, when the dance was o'er, he led the lass awa',
An' bade guid nicht, wi' gratefu thanks, to bonnie Effie Ha'.
But Effie, ere she let him gang, would cram his pouches fu'
O' joints o' fowl an' dauds o beef—I trow he had enow.
"Na dinna be oure blate," quo she, "your journey may be lang,
A morsel's needfu' on the way, gm ye hae far to gang.
Guid nicht, an' when ye pass again be sure an' gie a ca',
Youre welcome to a rest an' bit,—just speer for Effie Ha'."
O' joints o' fowl an' dauds o beef—I trow he had enow.
"Na dinna be oure blate," quo she, "your journey may be lang,
A morsel's needfu' on the way, gm ye hae far to gang.
Guid nicht, an' when ye pass again be sure an' gie a ca',
Youre welcome to a rest an' bit,—just speer for Effie Ha'."
Next day a carriage drove in straight direction for the farm,
Quo' Effie, "Faither! faither! look, losh keep us a' frae harm,
The glitterin' o' it in the sun is dazzlin' so my e'e,
I canna get a richt clear blink, on airth wha can it be?
Big folks,—a gentleman has noo alighted at the door;
Good gracious, I ha'e surely seen that smilin' face afore."
Quo' Effie, "Faither! faither! look, losh keep us a' frae harm,
The glitterin' o' it in the sun is dazzlin' so my e'e,
I canna get a richt clear blink, on airth wha can it be?
Big folks,—a gentleman has noo alighted at the door;
Good gracious, I ha'e surely seen that smilin' face afore."
An' Effie wi' a burnin' cheek, for why she scarce could ken,
Beheld her wonderin' falther lead the gran' young stranger ben.
When in a wee the farmer ca'd his dochter to his side,
His honest visage beamin' a' bewilderment an' pride:
"Oh! Effie, woman, this beats a'; ye ken the fiddler wicht,
Ye danced wi' in the barn yestreen, turns out a noble knight.
Beheld her wonderin' falther lead the gran' young stranger ben.
When in a wee the farmer ca'd his dochter to his side,
His honest visage beamin' a' bewilderment an' pride:
"Oh! Effie, woman, this beats a'; ye ken the fiddler wicht,
Ye danced wi' in the barn yestreen, turns out a noble knight.
"An' noo he's come to seek your haun, gin your consent ye'll gie,
An' mak ye leddy o' yon ha' wha's lofty towers we see,
He begs you11 come at once an' speak; and dinna say him nay:"
But aye she cried, "I couldna face that man,—oh, sirs the day,—
Wha ever heard o' sic a thing for me to gang an cram
The pouches o' a gran' young knight wi' dauds o' beef an' ham."
An' mak ye leddy o' yon ha' wha's lofty towers we see,
He begs you11 come at once an' speak; and dinna say him nay:"
But aye she cried, "I couldna face that man,—oh, sirs the day,—
Wha ever heard o' sic a thing for me to gang an cram
The pouches o' a gran' young knight wi' dauds o' beef an' ham."
But Effie's scruples were o'ercome, the gallant pleaded well,
An' many an envious throb awoke when pealed the marriage bell.
Wi' keen remorse puir Tibbie Grey was like to tak' her bed,
"To think," she said, "but for her pride hersel' might hae been wed;
She was the very first on whom his fancy seemed to licht,
O, if she only could ha'e kenn'd the fiddler was a knight."
An' many an envious throb awoke when pealed the marriage bell.
Wi' keen remorse puir Tibbie Grey was like to tak' her bed,
"To think," she said, "but for her pride hersel' might hae been wed;
She was the very first on whom his fancy seemed to licht,
O, if she only could ha'e kenn'd the fiddler was a knight."
That vanity is profitless, mair than her bosom owns,
An affability sets aff e'en those wha sit on thrones:;
That lassies may complaisant be, nor e'er put on a frown,
Nor yet from female dignity be thocht descendin' down.
Civility is each one's right, besides 'tis breeding's law,
An' mair, it is a witchin' charm, sae proved by Effie Ha'.
An affability sets aff e'en those wha sit on thrones:;
That lassies may complaisant be, nor e'er put on a frown,
Nor yet from female dignity be thocht descendin' down.
Civility is each one's right, besides 'tis breeding's law,
An' mair, it is a witchin' charm, sae proved by Effie Ha'.