[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

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MY AIN FIRESIDE.
Nae falsehood to dread, and nae malice to fear,
But truth to delight me, and friendship to cheer
Of a' roads to happiness ever were tried,
There's nana half so sure as ane's ain fireside.
My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
O there's nought to compare wi' ane's ain fireside.
When I draw in my stool on my cosey hearthstane,
My heart loups sae light I scarce ken't for my ain
Care's down on the wind, it is clean out o' sight,
Past troubles they seem but as dreams of the night.
I hear but kend voices, kend faces I see.
And mark saft affection glent fond frae ilk e'e
Nae fleetchings o' flattery, nae boastings of pride,
'Tis heart speaks to heart at ane's ain fireside.
My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
O there's nought to compare wi' ane's ain fireside.
" My Ain Fireside"—which has long been a favourite, and is to be found
in almost every collection of songs—was written by William Hamilton of
Gilbertfield. His name is less familiar to the reader of Scottish poetry
than we think it ought to be. True, the effusions of his muse that have
been preserved, are not so numerous as to entitle him to prominency
amongst the versifiers of his country ; but, from the few pieces known to
have emanated from his pen, it cannot be denied that he possessed a considerable
vein of poesy. Scanty, however, as are his writings, the parti-
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culars of his long, and for some time active life, are still more limited. His
< ancestors, a branch of the ducal family of Hamilton, owned the lands of
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Ardoch, near Kilwinning, from an early period. Andro Hamilton, third
; son of Robert, fifth laird of Torrance, obtained a charter of them from the
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Abbot of Kilwinning. He was also, by royal charter—15th July, 1543
\ —appointed " Principal Porter and Master of Entrie to our Soveraine
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Lady, and her Governor of all her Palaces, Castles," and other strongholds,
! during life. Captain William Hamilton, father of the Poet, acquired the
property of Ladyland, near Kilwinning, about the middle of the seven-
\ teenth century. Shortly afterwards, he "biggit a new house, of twa
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