[Page
102]
Maclellan's Son
1
(1)
It was on September, the eighteenth day,
Now just attend to what I say,
A gun was heard, a
solemn sound,
Like thunder rolling, shook the
ground.
(2)
The neighbours hastened to the
spot
Where they had heard this mournful shot,
And there, in death's cold fetters found
A bleeding
victim on the ground.
(3)
It's there they
saw a man and gun,
Who had this dreadful murder done.
With rolling eyes cast on the ground,
He told the
truth to all around.
[Page 103]
(4)
“I just picked up this cursed gun
,
To snap it off in careless fun,
When this
poor boy with spirit large
Came up the hill and met the
charge,
(5)
“I did not know the load was
in,
Until I saw him droop his chin,
With
death-like looks to me did say,
"Britner, you've took my life
away!”
(6)
“With gracious wonder, strange
to tell,
He turned to me and down he fell.
His dying eyes on me did roll,
Just like an arrow pierced my
soul.
[Page
104]
(7)
“I'll tell you what I'll have you
do.
Load this same gun and shoot me too.
I
would to God, I too were dead!
Where shall I hide my guilty
head!”
(8)
“We'll take poor Daniel from his
gore,
And lay him on the bar-room floor,
Send for a justice very soon ,
And let the jury fill the
room.
(9)
They took poor Daniel from his
sight
Down to a friend’s to spend the night,
With wringing hands
2 and bitter cries,
They walked the room with streaming eyes.
[Page 105]
(10)
The parents
of this murdered boy
Had given up all hopes of joy,
To see their son to manhood grown,
Should die by folly
not his own
(11)
Take warning, all you
careless youths,
By these few lines, and speak the
truth.
Take warning by MacLellan's son,
Mind
how you trifle
3 with a gun.
Finis
Notes
1
Maclellan's Son: On April 18
Daniel McLennan is shot accidentally by Tim who claims he was playing carelessly
with a gun he did not know was loaded.
2
Wringing Hands: to show that you are very sad or anxious about a
situation but do nothing to improve it
3
Trifle : to deal with something as if it were of little significance
or value
