(untitled) AIR — “Come, sit down my Cronies”

When the douce earl, St. Andrew, arrived on our shore, And the chiefs of ancient Caledon stood marshall’d before, He clad the chiels in philabegs, and tauld them how to pray, And to drink a death an ’a’horris, in his auld farrent way.

His plaid was 0’ the tartan, his bonnet 0’ blue, His brogues tho’ sairly cobbled still his hose pass’d for new;

He dander’d to a muckle cairn that crown’t a heather brae, And he dealt them ghostly counsel, in his auld farrent way.

Then they spier’d what they ca’d him and what they did aboon, And how the Deil they’d ere clim south, sae far ‘yont the Moon;

The flesh, he said was feckless, but the spirit wan the day, And he prov‘d it in a drappie, in his auld farrent way!

Oh! for spirit, then they shouted, to soar amang the stars, Where they’d never want to pike a bane, or wage cruel wars; — He‘d fill’d them roun a jorum 0’ true usquabae

And he’d soon made happy converts in his auld farrent way.

While the Chieftains of Albin their Saint crowded near, He bound them by tokens of friendship so dear — His broad cross of silver their banners did display, And he shouther laid to shouther, in his auld farrent way.

“My last charge I leave you, still mind the gowden rule, And what sae af’t I’ve taught you, repay up the full; - When far frae your native land, and could I’m in the clay, Fill a cog to gude St. Andrew, in his auld farrent way.m

There was many a cog filled to “gude St. Andrew,” but the dinners were becoming, as well, occasions for a review of the colony’s affairs over the past year. This account was usually given by the lieutenant- governor in his address to the guests. In 1826, Lieutenant-Governor Ready had nothing but praise for the colony and its residents. He con- gratulated the Islanders on the improvements made generally over the year, remarking that there had been an easing of trade restrictions, that Charlottetown soon would become a free port, and that much had been done on internal improvements — the revenue was in a “flourishing state” and road-building was proceeding quickly. He thanked his listeners for the cordial support granted him by all Islanders and con- cluded by saying he would “drink the health of the company, and pro- sperity to the Island, and may it soon arrive at what from its fertile soil, salubrious climate and local advantages, it was destined to become, ‘the garden of North America.’ ” '°

18