THE FLOWER O' FETTERCAIRN.

[Currie]

From The Dundee Courier & Argus and Northern Warder, Tuesday, August 26, 1879.
(the words in red italics are a bit fuzzier than the rest - any suggestions?)

THE FLOWER O' FETTERCAIRN.

O, come an' meet me, lassie fair,
And let us spend a day together;
We'll roam where flowerets scent the air,
An' wander thro' the bloomin' heather;
An’ thro Drumtochty's wizard glen,
Which hath been sung in flowing numbers;
By him* wha had the gifted pen,
But noo in the cauld grave he slumbers.

I’ll tak' you to a fairy bower,
Where a' the birdies sing mair cheery;
Where sweeter smells each bloomin' flower;
O, come awa’ wi' me, my dearie.
It is a bower fit for a queen—
A queen you are to me, sweet Marion—
Thy person is excell'd by nane;
You are the flower o' Fettercairn.

An’ I'll tell you my tale again,
Altho’ it’s just the same auld story,
Which aft I've tauld you by Balmain,
And by Balbegno`s castle hoary.
I ken your heart is true to me,
An’ aye will be, my bonnie Marion;
Nae vile deceit doth dwell wi' thee,
My lovely flower o' Fettercairn.

If Fortune just wad gie to me,
As muckle gear as keep me cantie,
An' a snug cottage graced wi' thee,
I wadna ca' the queen my auntie.
Content I'd warale yont life's road,
If by my side my bonnie Marion;
For till I'm laid beneath the sod,
I’ll love the flower o' Fettercairn.

Toll of Tayock. G. B. HADDEN.

*Wm. Jamie, Author of the "'Muse of the Mearns."


In “Mid Victorian Poetry, 1860-1879: an annotated biobibliography, page 200, there's:
“Hadden, George Barclay. Teacher of violin and dancing in Montrose, Forfarshire, for c. forty years. Known as ‘Toll of Tayock’. The poet’s wallet: a collection of poems and songs; by George B. Hadden. Printed Montrose: George Walker. 1875. 92 pp. GMI”
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=bzR ... C&pg=PA200

He sounds like an interesting character to add to your family tree if you're short a few.

Alan

[AndrewP]

Hi Alan,

The word 'cantie' is fine. 'Canty' - a Scots word meaning cheerful or lively [from Chambers Dictionary].

All the best,

AndrewP

[Currie]

Thanks Andrew,

Here’s the image. http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad28 ... ourier.jpg

It looks like the second word should be warsle, meaning wrestle or struggle or thereabouts, which would fit the story.

It seems Mr Hadden was a bit of a local legend in his own life-time. Probably very few people have laid eyes on that poem during the last 130 years.

All the best,
Alan

[Russell]

Very descriptive find Alan

I agree with Andrew and yourself on the interpretation. Its good to see auld Scots in verse. It makes for good poetry. Dundee is still a stronghold of some of the Auld Scots tongue despite it being dismissed as dialect. I think they introduced some 'lessons' into primary schools to help the youngsters appreciate their heritage.
Please keep discovering these forgotten gems.
Russell