The stories in this collection lovingly trace the lives of men and women in north-east Scotland that are thrown into relief by moments of change or crisis. Violet Jacob's characters struggle with the burden of secret knowledge or forbidden desire against a landscape that is both recognizably Scottish and yet also touched by the presence of something "beyond the bounds of this present world," as she describes it in one story. Jacob writes in clear, carefully observed language that captures both the linguistic variety of her characters and the often limited opportunities her characters must face. In one notable story, a young woman must choose between obedience to her miserly father or love for an unworthy suitor; in another, a sailor back home in Angus weighs the benefits of a land-bound life against the freedom of the seas. In each of the stories in the volume, Jacob illuminates landscapes and lives marked by what she elsewhere calls "the beauty of suggestion, the glamour of the unseen, the half-guessed." Jacob's vivid imagery and the precision of her language are not dimmed by time; the stories in this volume will enthrall contemporary readers with their portraits of places and individuals that appear so clearly crafted that Jacob's "own country" on the page becomes as real to readers as the real geographical places she describes.

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This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ Sheep-stealers Violet Jacob Putnam, 1902

CONTENTS THE WIND FRAE THE BALTIC THE TRAMP TO THE TATTIE-DULIE HALLOWEEN .... ADAM THE DAFT BIRD PRIDE KIRRIE THE END OT .... THE KELPIE .... BALTIC STREET BAILIE BRUCE.... CHARLEWAYN .... THE MUCKLE MOU . vii I 3 5 8 10 13 15 17 20 22 25 28 31 34 viii CONTENTS THE GANGEREL THE TINKLERS BALOO THE BANKS O THE ESK THE WISE-LIKE CHAP INVERQUHARITY FAUR-YE-WEEL . A YOUNG MANS SONG THE SHADOWS . A WINTER PHANTASY MARSEY TOWN THE SEASONS IN ENGLISH All these poems, with the exception of the last two in the book, have appeared in Country Life, and I have to thank the editor for his courteous permission to reproduce them. BONNIE JOANN AND OTHER POEMS BONNIE JOANN WEVE stookit the hairst an were needin To gaither it in, Syne, gin the morns dry, well be leadin An warkll begin But noo Ill awa doon the braeside My lane, while I can Wha kens wha hell meet by the wayside, My bonnie Joann East yonder, the hairst-fields are hidin The sea frae my een, Gin ye keek whaur the stooks are dividin Ye11 see it atween. Sae douce an sae still it has sleepit Since hairst-time began Like my hert gin yed tak it an keep it My bonnie Joann. 2 i BONNIE JOANN Owre a thing the shadows gang trailin, Owre stubble an strae Frae the hedge to the fit o the pailin They rax owre the way But the sun may gang through wi his beamin An traivel his span, For aye, by the licht o my dreamhV, I see ye, Joann. Awa frae ye, naebodys braver, Mair wise-like an bauld, Aside ye, I hech an I haver, Im het an Im cauld But oh could I tell wiout speakin The hert o a man, Ye micht find Im the lad that ye re seekin, My bonnie Joann THE WIND FRAE THE BALTIC BELOW the was, oot-by Montrose, The tides ca up an doon And monys the gallant mairchantmanLies in aside the toon Oh, its fine alang the tideway The loupin waters rin When the wind is frae the Baltic wi the brigs comin in. Id gie the ring upon my hand To hide me frae the sea That manes by nicht an cries by day The dule thats come to me, For Ill hear nae mair the fit-fa When hame the brigs may win O a man that sailed the Baltic, nor his step comin in. 3