edited by Hugh H. Aitken, MA. This web presentation of the 1912 edition of the book is reproduced by SKWebpages from one of the few remaining copies of the original publication, enabling these works to be available to a worldwide audience.  WALTER WATSON was at one time well known and held in high esteem in the Chryston, Cadder, Kirkintilloch, and Campsie districts. Unfortunately his works are now almost unknown in these places, and this book has been written to prevent the better known poems and songs passing entirely into oblivion. The first edition of Watson's poems was published in 1808 ; the last under his own supervision in 1853. Since his death a volume containing all his works, with the exception of one or two which are known, in various forms, by a few old people of  this district, was published in 1877 shortly after the obelisk of granite was raised in Chryston to the memory of the poet. The selection is taken from the editions of 1808, 1853, and 1877, but a few manuscripts have been placed at my disposal by a gentleman of Lenzie, and some of the poems and parts of the biographical information have been taken from that source.
I take this opportunity of returning thanks to Mr. James Henderson for the loan of the photograph from which the frontispiece is taken, and to Mr. James Anderson for help in compiling the biographical sketch.H. H. A. Chryston. 1912 |
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