I said, when a laddie o' ten, as I gaed o'er the hills o' Argyle,
"The way is sae rocky and steep, I am weary this many a mile;
Just leave me, and gang on yoursel'; the road I'm no likely to miss."
Then my feyther stooped down, wi' a laugh, and gied me a tender bit
kiss.
"Why, Donald," he said, "be a man, and keep mind o' the words that I
say,
A strong, stout heart and a sturdy step gang o'er the steepest brae."
"It, isna the steepness," I said, "but the way is sae wearifu' lang."
"Tut! tut! if your heart gies the order, your body will just hae to
gang.
Think, Donald, o' mither and hame, and dinna give up for your life;
Step out to the sang you like best--'Here's to the bonnets o' Fife!'
Sing, lad, though you sing through your tears, and keep mind o' the
words that I say,
A strong, stout heart and a sturdy step win o'er the langest way."
Then I said to my heart, "Gie the order." Singing, I walked or I ran;
My feyther stepped, laughing, beside me, and called me "his bonnie
brave man."
And sae, ere the storm-clouds had gathered, we were safe at our ain
fireside,
And feyther sat watching the snaw-drifts, wi' me cuddled close to his
side.
"Donald," he said, "my dear laddie, no matter wherever you stray,
Keep mind--a strong heart and a sturdy step gang o'er the steepest
brae."
Now far from the bonnie Scotch Highlands I've travelled full many a
mile,
Yet always, in trouble or sorrow, I think o' the hills o' Argyle,
Say, "Heart, gie the order for marching!" strike up the auld "Bonnets
o' Fife,"
And then I set dourly and bravely my face to the mountains o' life,
For the thought o' my feyther is wi' me: and, "Donald," I hear him
say,
"Keep mind--a strong heart and a sturdy step gang o'er the steepest
brae."