Gaelic Column

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 28, 7 October 1893, Page 7

Gaelic Column

THE LARK. (Translated from the Gaelic.) “ There’s no’a birdie in the lift” that was so much loved by the inhabitants of the Hebrides as the lark was. In my own early days people highly regarded the little singer. Bat such a change has come over the thoughts and habits of men that a great many think themselves far above taking any notice of the fowls of the air. I very much fear that men are not in the least, in wisdom and intelligence, or at all in kindness and gentle feeling, ahead of those that were in the time that • is past, though they esteem themselves decidedly wiser than the men that are gone. When I was young the lark was regarded as a sacred bird. Ho one that had arrived at sense would rob the nest of the lark on any account. In ploughing time, if a lark’s nest happened to be in the way of the plough, the tussock with its little charge was carefully removed with the spade and placed in safety on the top of the furrow. If the bird had begun to sit on the eggs she would by no means abandon them; but if she had not she would come near them no more, The lark for the most part lays four eggs. But now and again one and another will have five. The lark that has five eg’gs is designated as a Maiy’s lark. Frequently one of the eggs is -sterile. And when the other eggs are hatched the sferile egg’ somehow or other disappears. Men in old times used to say that the parent bird had disposed of it as a tithe ; which shews to us plainly that in those days the lark was esteemed a holy bird. The special reason why the lark was so highly regarded is that she opened her songon the morning of fSt Bride’s day (Candlemas), thus heralding the approach of the spring Men are naturally pleased when the days begin to lengthen. At the opening of spring the whole creation seems as if awakening out of its sleep, and begins to stir the forces of nature into a state of of activity. I can well remember how the faces of old and young lighted up when the song of the lark was heard. But if the lark did welcome the spring with sweet song, the welcome to the lark was also with words choice and suitable, as in the following verse, which shows how men prized the lark. I have evidence that the verse was written well nigh two centuries ago. It was customary to sing and recite it on St. Bride’s day, when the lark began his song. Here then is the verse (translated without regard to metre) : “ Oh pliant wings from the heights of the clouds, the gentle, gray-mottled lark, famous of old, pours forth to us its melody in perfect time, and renews to us the tale of the returning spring, though scarcely healed her recent suffering from cruel cold, thus showing sweetness of nature and ready obedience to the will of Trinity on heaven’s high throne. A witness she against the people and in proof of the praise in heaven itself, her warbling (of heaven inspired) surpasses the art and skill of men. Stainless in nature and indeed, she leaves a fair fame to her offspring. “ A tree, run all to branches and twigs, such is man* He moves along in a fog, virtueless, graceless, corrupt, with temptation a mist on his eyes. Oh 1 Thou all-worthy, of powers transcendent, so train our hearts that we may sing sweet melody to the saints that dwell in the world of life —where love is unchanged, and music for ever attends —Mary full of Grace, Peter and Paul and John,” Amen. *The figure is dropped here. There are one or two words in the poem which I think must be a misprint.