Classic Poem

Skies are dusky, winds are keen,
Round Lallan Farm this Hallowe'en.

All is dark across the night,
But see! one glimmer of pink light!

What are those that in the air
Flit against the window-glare?

Falling flakes of snow they seem,
Or night-moths gather'd by the gleam.

Round and round they wind and wind, —
Tiny shades against the blind.

Child, wish now! while thou canst see!
'Tis the fairy companie!

Once a year, on Hallowe'en,
Are the fairy people seen.

Thus round happy farms they fly,
While the peat-fire blazes high.

Lad and lass, to-night beware!
There is magic in the air!

" Ah, bairns, my bairns, forbear on Hallow Night
To mock the fairy people and their might,
For though ye deem these things are all untrue,
Yourselves may be the first to see and rue!
Hark! now the winds a moment cease to roar,
A sound like some one breathing at the door!
And hark again! faint pattings on the pane
Of little finger-taps, like fluttering rain!
Ay! 'tis the fairy people hovering nigh:
Draw back the blind to peep, and they will fly!
But serve them solemnly, with charm and spell,
And the old customs that they love so well,
And they will show you all you wish to see, —
Your true love's face, his country and degree, —
All, all a lass with pleasure asks and learns,
Down to the number of her unborn bairns!

" Ay, please the fays! 'tis easy if ye will;
But woe be yours if they should wish you ill:
Your jo will take to drink, or drown at sea,
Or find another sweeter companie;
Your cheeks will droop, your looks will lose their light;
Ye'll marry an old man, and freeze at night!
In vain, in vain ye try to change your fate,
When they have fix'd your lot and future mate:
In vain ye seek to frown and turn aside, —
They make your heart consent in spite of pride.
'Twas so with me, when I was young and gay,
Though I was loth to hearken and obey.
They led me to their choice by spells and charms;
They closed my een, and drew me to his arms!
Or grandfather had ne'er prevailed on me
To droop my pride, and smile as low as he!

" For, though I say it, bairns, my face was fair,
And I was Farmer Binnie's child and heir;
A widowed father's pet, I ruled the place,
Right proud, be sure, of fortune and of face.
My hair was golden then, like Maggie's here,
And I had een as sly, yet crystal clear,
And I could look as bright when pleased and fain,
Or toss my curls with just as sweet disdain!
What wonder, then, if half the country-side
Looked love into my face, and blush'd and cried,
Bleating behind me, like a flock of sheep
Around a shepherd-lass, who, half asleep,
Counts them in play, leads them with pretty speech,
Rates all alike, and scarce kens each from each?
One found me coy, another found me gleg,
Another skittish as the gray mare Meg;
Just as the humour took me, I was wild
Or gentle, — one day cross, the next day mild;
But cared no more for handsome Jamie West,
When he came o'er the heather in his best,
Jingling his silver spurs at our fire-end,
In breeks so tight 'twas near his death to bend,
Than for the grim old Laird of Glumlie Glen,
Who rode on solemn sheltie now and then
Over the moors, — and, making mouths at me,
With father cracked of crops o'er barleybree, —
While Jock the groom, who knew I loved such fun,
Ginger'd the sheltie for a homeward run!

" Yet oft I tried to picture in my brain
What kind of laddie in the end would gain,
And vainly sought 'mong those around to find
The substance of the shadow in my mind.
But, bairns, in vain I pictured; and anew
Will you and children's children picture too: —
The bonnie shadow flies, and in its place
The chilly substance steals to our embrace.
I swore he should be stately, dark, and tall, —
His hair was fiery-red and he was small!
I swore he should be rich in gold and lands, —
His fortune was the strength of his two hands!
I swore he should be meek and ruled by me, —
The De'il himself is easier led than flee!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Round the happy farm they flee, —
Fairy folk in companie.

Near the peat-blaze range in ring;
Fiddler, twang the fiddle-string.

In the great tub duck the head
After apples rosy red!

Slyly let each pair by turn
Watch the magic chestnuts burn!

Love who never loved before, —
Kiss me quick behind the door!

Lad and lass, to-night beware!
There is magic in the air!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

" O bairns, we gathered round the blazing peat,
And lad and lass sat close and whispered sweet,
While ancient women spake of wonders seen
On many a long-forgotten Hallowe'en,
And old men nodded snowy polls the while,
Passing the snuff-box round with sceptic smile.
Tall in the midst my father had his place,
Health and a golden harvest in his face;
And, hand in his, full rosy and full sly,
Surrounded by my silly sheep sat I.
Loud rang the laughter! fearless grew the fun!
Happy and warm at heart was every one!
The old, old shepherd, worn with rain and wind,
Blink'd in the ingle-nook with eyes half blind,
While at his feet his tired old dog slept deep,
And, starting, dream'd of gathering the sheep.

" James West was there, the Laird, and many more,
Wooers both old and young, and rich and poor;
And, though I say it, bairns, that night I smiled
My sweetest, and their wits were fairly wild.
Braw with new ribbons in my hair lint-light,
Clean as a guinea, newly minted, bright,
I sat and hearkened to their silly speech,
Happy, and with a careless smile for each;
And yet, though some were fine and fair to see,
Not one had power to steal my heart from me.

" Oh, Hallowe'en in those old times, I vow,
Was thrice as merry, thrice as sweet, as now!
The benches drawn aside, the supper o'er,
Fresh sand was strewn upon this very floor;
The fiddle played — the fiddler gave a squeal —
Up stood the folk, and father led the reel!
The lads loup'd up and kick'd the beam for fun!
The crimson lassies screamed to see it done!
Meantime the old men, with contented look,
Smoked clean new cutties in the chimney nook,"
And thought of days when they were young and gay,
And pleased the lassies, too, with feats of play.
Yet one was there, my bairns, amid the throng,
Who, though his years were young, his limbs full strong,
Danced not that night; but pale and gloomy, stayed.
Among the gaffers, in the chimney shade, —
Hugh Scott his name, an orphan lad, whose hand
Guided the ploughshare on my father's land,
But one my father prized and trusted best
For cunning and for skill o'er all the rest.
Full well I knew the rogue esteemed me sweet,
But I was gentry, and his masters' meat!
And oft I smiled on him full fond and free,
As ne'er I smiled on those who courted me,
Pleased that my smiles sank sweet to his heart's core,
But certain he would never hope for more.

" There in the chimney shadow, pale and sad,
Clad in his clothes of Sabbath, sat the lad:
In vain, to catch his look, the lassies leered,
In vain the old folk saw his sulks, and sneered,
But aye his dim and melancholy e'e
Turned flashing in the shade and followed me.
Whene'er I danced with some fine wooer there,
I saw his fist clench and his eyeballs glare, —
Red as a rick on fire I watched him grow
Whene'er my partner whispered light and low,
And had a kiss been stolen in his sight,
I swear he would have ta'en revenge in fight.
Half pleased, half careless, to increase his ill,
I marked him kindly, as a lassie will,
And sent him many a smile of tender light
To cheer him in his nook, that Hallow night.

" Louder the fiddler, gay with many a glass,
Shouted to stir the hearts of lad and lass!
Faster and faster on his strings he skirled!
Faster and faster round the dancers whirled!
Close by, the young folks duck'd for apples red,
Splashing, with puffing cheek and dripping head,
Into the washing-bine, or, in a ring,
With gaping mouths, they played at cherry-string.
But in the parlour, from the turmoil free,
Father sat now with antique companie —
Cronies who mixed their tumblers strong and deep
Twelve times, and toddled, sober, off to sleep.

" But, bairns, 'twas near the hour when ghaists are said
To rise white-sheeted from their kirkyard bed,
When the owl calls, and blinks his e'eball white
In ruins, where the fairies flit by night.
And now my heart beat fast and thick for fear,
Because the time of spells and charms was near,
And I was bent that very night to fly
Out o'er the meadow to the kiln, — and try
The twining charm, the spell of fairy fate,
And hear the name of him that I should mate.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lad and lass, to-night beware!
There is magic in the air!

Winds are crying shriil, and, hark
Ghosts are groaning in the dark.

Who will dare this Hallow Night
Leave the happy ingle-light?

Who will dare to stand alone,
While the fairy thread is thrown?

Who this night is free from fear?
Let her ask, — and she shall hear!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

" Dark, dark was all, as shivering and alone
I set my foot upon the threshold-stone,
And, trembling close, with twitching fingers caught
The great norn-lanthorn from the stables brought,
And leant against the door to keep it wide,
And peer'd into the solemn gloom, and sighed.
Black was the lift, and faintly fell the rain,
The wind was screeching like a sprite in pain;
And, while I paused, pinching my e'en to mark,
The wind swung-to the door, and left me in the dark!

" O bairns! what would my foolish heart have gi'en
To let the fairies be, that Hallowe'en!
But I had sworn, and all the lassies knew,
And I was shamed, and fain must see it through.
Oh! where were all my boasts, my laughter light,
Now I was there alone amid the night?
While faintly ben the farm the fiddle cried,
And far away the sound of dancing died.

" Thud, thud against my breast my wild heart leapt,
As out across the misty yard I crept,
Holding the lanthorn up; — its flickering ray
Made darkness doubly deep along the way.
Then in my ears I seem'd to hear strange screams,
And fearful faces flashed with lightning-gleams,
And, as I wandered, fingers sharp and wee
Pinched me and pulled my garter o'er the knee.
Out of the yard, across the field, the dew
Still drizzling damply in my face, I flew,
Till, breathless, panting hard against the wind,
Fearful to look before me or behind,
I reached the kiln, — and, standing dizzy there,
Heard softer voices round me in the air,
A sound like little feet along the gloom,
And hummings faint as of a fairy loom.
Then setting down the lanthorn on the ground
I entered in, nor paused to look around.
But faint and fast began to say the charm
All northern lassies know, and reached my arm,
Casting the twine, and catching one end tight —
Flinging the other loose into the night,
O bairns! O bairns! scarce had I uttered thrice
The secret spell, with lips as cold as ice,
When through my blood a sick'ning shudder spread,
For ghaistly fingers tighten'd at the thread!
Then in a hollow voice, to know my doom,
" Who holds? who holds? " I cried into the gloom; —
And ere the echo of my voice had died,
" Hugh Scott! Hugh Scott! " a hollow voice replied:
And, screaming out, and covering up my face,
Kicking the lanthorn o'er, I fled the place,
Stumbling and tripping, flew across the field,
Till, white as any lamb, I reached the bield,
And crept up to my room, and hid my head,
Moaning, among the blankets of the bed!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lightly soon shall rise the sun!
Fays, begone! your work is done.

Fiddler, put your tools away,
Take a nap among the hay.

Lads and lassies, flush'd and red,
Yawn no more, but off to bed.

Maiden, thou hast heard and seen
Wonders strange at Hallowe'en.

Thou hast wish'd to hear and see —
And thy fate is fixed for thee.

Sad or merry, ill or well,
Fairy looms have spun the spell.

In among the blankets creep —
Dream about him in your sleep.

Wake and smile with heart resigned!
Kiss and cuddle, and be kind!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

" Oh, bitter was my heart, my wits amazed;
Wildly I pondered like a lassie crazed:
Hugh Scott my mate! Hugh Scott, of all around!
A pauper lad, a tiller of the ground!
When wealthy men came lilting o'er the lea,
In shining braws, and sought to marry me!
" Nay, nay! " I cried, and frowning raised my face,
" No force shall make me choose a lot so base:
The spirits of the air but wish this night
To try my heart, and fill my soul with fright;
Yet they shall know full soon they rate me ill, —
I fear them not, nor shall I work their will! "
But as I spoke, I shook, and unaware
Keek'd o'er my shoulder at the glass, and there,
In the faint lamplight burning by the bed,
His face , a moment mirror'd, flash'd and fled!

" O bairns! — what further tale have I to tell?
How could I fight against a fate so fell?
Strive as I might, awaking or asleep,
I found my eyes in fascination deep
Follow Hugh Scott, and, till my heart went wild,
He haunted me from spot to spot, and smiled.
Then, unaware, to notice I began
That he was trim and stout, and like a man,
That there were tender tones upon his tongue,
And that his voice was sweet whene'er he sung.
Nay, more, full soon his manners seemed to me
More fine than those of loftier degree,
And as for gold, though he was humble, still
He had a fortune in his farming skill.
Ay, bairns! before another Hallow Night
The fairies to their wish had worked me quite;
And, since his heart had ever favoured Hugh,
Full easily they won my father too —
And when at last Hugh craved me to be his,
I — fell upon his heart and blush'd for bliss!

" Ah! heed not, bairns, though grandfather should swear
That, when I tried the spell, himself was there,
And, when I saw the phantom in the room,
Again, was near me, keeking through the gloom;
And that his craft and cunning were the charms
Which cheated me and drew me to his arms.
Nay! nay! right solemnly, with song and spell,
And the old customs that they love so well,
Serve the good fays this night — be bold! be brave!
And though they may not give you all ye crave,
Be sure that you will find, as I have found,
Their choice right wise, and all their counsels sound,
And bless for many a year the love and light
They spin for happy hearts, on Hallow Night."