Hard Luck by James Andersen

Barkerville, Williams Creek, Cariboo

HARD LUCK

Last night I sat and watch'd

Beside a comrade's bed-

An' a' was still, within an' out,

Save the watch-beat overhead:

My thochts gaed back and fore,

Frae now to "ould lang syne,"-

Till a' resolved to this at last,

"Was ever luck like mine?"

A voice then struck my ear-

Sae weary an' sae wae-

In words I couldna choose but hear,

And "helpless," thrice did say;

I mark'd the sufferer's face,

Read pain in ilka line-

A taunting spirit in me asked,

"Was ever luck like thine?"

This touch'd me to the heart-

I weaken'd richt awa-

I couldna thole to see my case

Compared wi' his ava.

And sae a lesson's taught,

that we should never tine-

However hard your lot may be

There's others waur than thine!
- James Anderson 1868

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