THE RIGS O' BARLEY.

Tune-" Corn Riys are bonnie.”

I.

Ir was upon a Lammas night,
When corn rigs are bonnie,
Beneath the moon's unclouded light,
I held awa to Annie:

The time flew by wi' tentless heed,
"Till 'tween the late and early,
Wi' sma' persuasion she agreed,
To see me thro' the barley.

II.

The sky was blue, the wind was still,
The moon was shining clearly;
I set her down wi' right good will,
Amang the rigs o' barley:

I ken't her heart was a' my ain;
I lov'd her most sincerely;

I kiss'd her owre and owre again,
Amang the rigs o' barley.

III.

I lock'd her in my fond embrace!
Her heart was beating rarely:
My blessings on that happy place,
Amang the rigs o' barley!

But by the moon and stars so bright,
That shone that hour so clearly!
She ay shall bless that happy night,
Amang the rigs o' barley.

IV.

I hae been blithe wi' comrades dear;

I hae been merry drinkin';
I hae been joyfu' gath'rin' gear;
I hae been happy thinkin':
But a' the pleasures e'er I saw,

Tho' three times doubl'd fairly, That happy night was worth them a', Amang the rigs o' barley.

CHORUS.

Corn rigs, an' barley rigs,

An' corn rigs are bonnie:
I'll ne'er forget that happy night,
Amang the rigs wi' Annie.

It is generally believed in the west of Scotland that Annie Ronald, afterwards Mrs. Paterson of Aikenbrae, was the inspirer of this charming song. The freedom and warmth of the words probably induced her to disown it in her latter days. The Poet was a frequent visiter at her father's house while he continued in Mossgiel; and Mr. Ronald liked so much the conversation of his eloquent neighbour, that he sat late with him on many occasions. This seems to have displeased another of his daughters, who said she "could na see ought about Robert Burns that would tempt her to sit up wi' him till twal o'clock at night.” It is not known how far Annie Ronald joined in her sister's dislike of the Bard. She probably thought on these matters like a young girl on Nithside, who said, with much simplicity, "I wonder what my brother John sees in the lasses, that he likes them sae weel;—for my part, I wad na gie the company o' ae lad for twenty lasses."

MONTGOMERY'S PEGGY.

Tune.-" Galla-Water."

ALTHO' my bed were in yon

muir

Amang the heather, in my plaidie,
Yet happy, happy would I be,

Had I my dear Montgomery's Peggy.

When o'er the hill beat surly storms,
And winter nights were dark and rainy ;
I'd seek some dell, and in my arms
I'd shelter dear Montgomery's Peggy.

Were I a baron proud and high,

And horse and servants waiting ready,
Then a' 'twad gie o' joy to me,

The sharin't with Montgomery's Peggy.

"This fragment is done," says Burns, "in imitation of the manner of a noble old Scottish piece, called M'Millan's Peggy. My Montgomery's Peggy was my deity for six or eight months. She had been bred in a style of life rather elegant; but, as Vanbrugh says, 'My damned star found me out there, too:' for though I began the affair merely in a gaieté de cœur, or to tell the truth, which will scarcely be believed, a vanity of

shewing my parts in courtship, particularly my abilities at a billet doux, on which I always piqued myself, made me lay siege to her; and when, as I always do in my foolish gallantries, I had battered myself into a very warm affection for her, she told, in a flag of truce, that her fortress had been for some time before the rightful property of another. It cost me some heartaches to get rid of the affair. I have even tried to imi tate, in this extempore thing, that irregularity in the rhyme which, when judiciously done, has such a fine effect on the ear."

Of M'Millan's Peggy various verses are yet remembered:

"O I wad gie my gude brade sword,
And sae wad I my tartan plaidie,
Gin I were twenty miles o'er the Forth,
And along wi' me my bonnie Peggie.

"He's mounted her on a milk-white steed,
And himself upon a good grey naigie ;

And he rode over hills, and he rode through howes,
And he rode quite away wi' the bonnie Peggie.

"Until that he came to a lone, lone glen,

Enough to frighten the bauldest bodie;
This glen's thy roem, and thy lamp yon moon—
Light down, light down, my bonnie Peggie.

"He's made her bed o' the brekans green,
And her covering o' his tartan plaidie;
And the simmer moon looked smiling down,
To see him watch his sleeping lady."

Other verses might be added, and some curious variations given-more curious than decorous.