When Wild War's Deadly Blast

When wild war's deadly blast was blawn,

And gentle peace returning,

Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless

And mony a widow mourning.

I left the lines and tented field

Where lang I'd been a lodger

My humble knapsack all my wealth

A poor but honest sodger.

At length I reached the bonnie glen

Where early life I sported;

I pass'd the mill and trysting thorn

Where Nancy oft I courted.

Wha spied I but my ain dear maid

Down by her mother's dwelling,

And turn'd me round to hide the flood

That in my e'e was swelling.

She gazed, she redden'd like a rose

Syne pale as any lily,

She sank within my arms and cried,

"Art thou my ain dear Willie?"

"By Him that made you sun and sky

By whom true love's regarded

I am the man! And thus may still

True lovers be rewarded."

"The wars are owre, an' I've come hame

And find the still true-hearted;

Tho' poor in gear, we're rich in love

And mair we'se ne'er be parted."

Quoth she, "My grand-sire left me gowd

A mailin plenished fairly

Then come, my faithful sodger lad

Thou'rt welcome to it dearly."