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THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD - Chapter II of II
When James Hogg was a boy, his parents were too poor to send him to
school. By some means, however, he learned to read; and after that he
loved nothing so much as a good book.
There were no libraries near him, and it was hard for him to get books.
But he was anxious to learn. Whenever he could buy or borrow a volume
of prose or verse he carried it with him until he had read it through.
While watching his flocks, he spent much of his time in reading. He
loved poetry and soon began to write poems of his own. These poems
were read and admired by many people.
The name of James Hogg became known all over Scotland. He was often
called the Ettrick Shepherd, because he was the keeper of sheep near
the Ettrick Water.
Many of his poems are still read and loved by children as well as by
grown up men and women. Here is one:--
A BOY'S SONG
Where the pools are bright and deep,
Where the gray trout lies asleep,
Up the river and o'er the lea,
That's the way for Billy and me.
Where the blackbird sings the latest,
Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest,
Where the nestlings chirp and flee,
That's the way for Billy and me.
Where the mowers mow the cleanest,
Where the hay lies thick and greenest,
There to trace the homeward bee,
That's the way for Billy and me.
Where the hazel bank is steepest,
Where the shadow falls the deepest,
Where the clustering nuts fall free,
That's the way for Billy and me.
Why the boys should drive away,
Little maidens from their play,
Or love to banter and fight so well,
That's the thing I never could tell.
But this I know, I love to play
In the meadow, among the hay--
Up the water, and o'er the lea,
That's the way for Billy and me.
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THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD - Chapter II of II [James Baldwin's story]
Read next: THE CALIPH AND THE POET
Read previous: THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD - Chapter I of II
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