A Highland Boy!-why call him so? He ne'er had seen one earthly sight; The sun, the day; the stars, the night; Or tree, or butterfly, or flower, Or fish in stream, or bird in bower, Or woman, man, or child. And yet he neither drooped nor pined, For God took pity on the Boy, him joy Of which we nothing know. His Mother, too, no doubt, above Her other Children him did love: For, was she here, or was she there, She thought of him with constant care, And more than Mother's love. And proud she was of heart, when clad Went hand in hand with her. A Dog, too, had he; not for need, Without a better guide. And then the bagpipes he could blow ; And thus from house to house would go, And all were pleas'd to hear and see; For none made sweeter melody Than did the poor blind Boy. Yet he had many a restless dream; Both when he heard the Eagles scream, And when he heard the torrents roar, And heard the water beat the shore Near which their Cottage stood. Beside a lake their Cottage stood, For to this Lake, by night and day, And rivers large and strong : Then hurries back the road it came- As long as earth shall last. And, with the coming of the Tide, And to the Shepherds with their Flocks Bring tales of distant Lands. And of those tales, whate'er they were, With warmer suns and softer gales, Yet more it pleased him, more it stirr'd, When from the water-side he heard The shouting, and the jolly cheers, The bustle of the mariners In stillness or in storm. But what do his desires avail ? For He must never handle sail; Nor mount the mast, nor row, nor float In Sailor's ship or Fisher's boat Upon the rocking waves. |