TheSoldier'sReturn

thesoldier'sreturn

air—“themill,mill,o.”

whenwildwar'sdeadlyblastwasblawn,

andgentlepeacereturning,

wi'monyasweetbabefatherless,

andmonyawidowmourning;

ileftthelinesandtentedfield,

wherelangi'dbeenalodger,

myhumbleknapsacka'mywealth,

apoorandhonestsodger.

aleal,lightheartwasinmybreast,

myhandunstain'dwi'plunder;

andforfairscotiahameagain,

icheeryondidwander:

ithoughtuponthebankso'coil,

ithoughtuponmynancy,

ithoughtuponthewitchingsmile

thatcaughtmyyouthfulfancy.

atlengthireach'dthebonieglen,

whereearlylifeisported;

ipass'dthemillandtrystingthorn,

wherenancyafticourted:

whaspiedibutmyaindearmaid,

downbyhermother'sdwelling!

andturn'dmeroundtohidetheflood

thatinmyeenwasswelling.

wi'alter'dvoice,"hi,“sweetlass,

sweetasyonhawthorn'sblossom,

o!happy,happymayhebe,

that'sdearesttothybosom:

mypurseislight,i'vefartogang,

andfainwouldbethylodger;

i'veserv'dmykingandcountrylang—

takepityonasodger.”

saewistfullyshegaz'donme,

andlovelierwasthanever;

quo'she,“asodgeranceilo'ed,

forgethimshallinever:

ourhumblecot,andhamelyfare,

yefreelyshallpartakeit;

thatgallantbadge—thedearcockade,

ye'rewelcomeforthesakeo't.”

shegaz'd—sheredden'dlikearose—

synepalelikeonlylily;

shesankwithinmyarms,andcried,

“artthoumyaindearwillie?”

“byhimwhomadeyonsunandsky!

bywhomtruelove'sregarded,

iamtheman;andthusmaystill

trueloversberewarded.