The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-10-06
ABBEVILLE, S: G, THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 6 1859
THE POETS OF SCOTLAND.

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There is no country in the world whicl
possesses richer treasury of national poe
try than Scotland, or nobler array of il:
lustrious bards. The name of burns
Scott, Campbell, and others, will ever be a
household words. There is, likewise; ;
host Of poets of lesser note, whose name
could hot bo enumerated, who have adde,
many gems to Scotlsnds natural mnstrelsy
In the national lyrics of Scotland we see ,
pure and affectionate spirit, and could easily
gather from therii, had we no other records
that they proceeded from simple, honest
strong-minded, independent, hospitable, and
happy people. The sougs of a nation gen
orally indicate the national virtues. A DO
graded, slavish, and sensual nation conld
never give utterance to manly, vigorous sen
timents. The Scottish songs grasp all that is
interesting in human feeling and passion
They describeand fix deeply OH the memory
those localities which have been the scene
OF memorable transactions, or are hallowed
by some romantic tradition. The poetic
mind seizes on the diversified scenes of quiet
lovellnes and wild grandeur with which Scot
lanad bounds. The rugged mountain lifts its
giant head amid the clouds-the lake
cleaning at its foot like diamond-tho
roaring waterfall-the winding river and
the fertile valley, all come forth glowing in
immortal verse-things of beauty to the
heart. and joys for ever.
The national songs reflect the manv sided
character of the Scottish people. They
give the different shades of their original
lty, and their humor, as we'll as traits OF
their outward peculiarities and habits. They
reveal the deepest workings of the heart :
its hopes, its joys, its cares, its sufferiugs
and Its loves. They are called out of the
widest depths of feeling, out of the wild
est dreams of fancy; the loveliest thoughts
are twined around them, and the fonde.,
memories grow bright and clear in their
light.
There are songs in the Scottish minstrel.
sy 80 noble in their sentiments that thew
can rouse the soul to the highest pitch OF
patriotism; there arc songs SO tender in
their associations as to make the strong
man weep; there are songs so truly woeful
in their story as to flood the mind with a
very sea of sadness; there are songs so
homely in their description of domestic
bliss that an atmosphere of social happiness
seems to float around them and there are
songs SO quaint in their humor, or SO
bold in their fun, as to set the table in q
roar"
1t is good for the world that songs can
not be selfishly appropriated. They can
be enjoyed equally by the lofiiest and the
lowliest. Neither are they for one time
There are songs which have come down to
us, after having cheered, consoled, and
charmed those who were before us, and
they will descend with younger CON-
panlons, in tie fullness of their power, to
gladden. and soothe future generations
Once learned, songs keep singular hold
on the memory. Even in old age, when
the most important transactions Of life are
forgotten, snatches of songs swell up in the
remembrance like sudden gushes of an al
most exhausted fountain. In every situa.
ton songs and tunes come unLidden to the
mind, fo' we cannot be always aware of
what brings them up ; and song, by making
the heart cheerful, ligltens labour.
What a mysterious power simple
melody and few simple words exercise
over the heart
"Songs of my native land,
To me how dear!
Songs of my infancy,
Sweet to mine ear!
Entwincd with my youthful days,
VII the bonny banks md braes
Where tire winding bt,rnfc strays,
Murm1ring near,
Strains of my native land,
That thrill the soul,
Pouring tho magic of
Your soft control!
Often have your minstrelsy
Soothed the pang of misery,
Winging rapid thoughts away
To realms on high"
Warming to .Serenaders.-A young gen.
tleman of a musical turn of mind one night
serenadedshis Dulcinea, aided and abetted
therein by party OF deluded friends.
Maxi Cau ha uiaifad il,es s...<I. 4 = i e