Old Ballads | Page 7

the wooing o't, Meg was
deaf' as Ailsa Craig, Ha, ha, the wooing o't. Duncan sigh'd baith out and
in, Grat his een baith bleer't and blin', Spak o' lowpin o'er a linn; Ha, ha,
the wooing o't.
Time and chance are but a tide, Ha, ha, the wooing o't, Slighted love is
sair to bide, Ha, ha, the wooing o't. Shall I, like a fool, quoth he, For a
haughty hizzie dee? She may gae to--France for me, Ha, ha, the wooing
o't.
How it comes let doctors tell. Ha, ha, the wooing o't, Meg grew sick--as
he grew well, Ha, ha, the wooing o't. Something in her bosom wrings,
For relief a sigh she brings; And O, her een, they spak sic things! Ha,
ha, the wooing o't.
Duncan was a lad o' grace, Ha, ha, the wooing o't, Maggie's was a

piteous case, Ha, ha, the wooing o't. Duncan couldna be her death,
Swelling pity smoor'd his wrath; Now they're crouse and cantie baith,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.
Burns.

THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON.
There was a youth, and a well-beloved youth, And he was a squire's
son; He loved the bailiff's daughter dear That lived in Islington.
Yet she was coy, and would not believe That he did love her so. No;
nor at any time would she Any countenance to him show.
But when his friends did understand His fond and foolish mind, They
sent him up to fair London An apprentice for to bind.
And when he had been seven long years, And never his love could see:
"Many a tear have I shed for her sake, When she little thought of me."
Then all the maids of Islington Went forth to sport and play, All but the
bailiff's daughter dear-- She secretly stole away.
She pulled off her gown of green, And put on ragged attire, And to fair
London she would go, Her true love to inquire.
And as she went along the high road, The weather being hot and dry,
She sat her down upon a green bank, And her true love came riding by.
She started up, with a colour so red, Catching hold of his bridle-rein;
"One penny, one penny, kind sir," she said, "Will ease me of much
pain."
"Before I give you one penny, sweetheart, Pray tell me where you were
born?" "At Islington, kind sir," said she, "Where I have had many a
scorn."
"I pr'ythee, sweetheart, then tell to me, O tell me, whether you know
The bailiff's daughter of Islington?" "She is dead, sir, long ago."
"If she be dead, then take my horse, My saddle and bridle also; For I
will into some far countrie, Where no man shall me know."
O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth, She standeth by thy side: She is here
alive, she is not dead-- And ready to be thy bride.
O farewell grief, and welcome joy, Ten thousand times therefore! For
now I have found my own true love, Whom I thought I should never
see more.

THE MILLER OF DEE.
There was a jolly miller once lived on the river Dee, He danced and
sang from morn till night, no lark so blithe as he; And this the burden
of his song for ever used to be: "I care for nobody, no, not I, if nobody
cares for me.
"I live by my mill, God bless her! she's kindred, child, and wife; I
would not change my station for any other in life. No lawyer, surgeon,
or doctor, e'er had a groat from me, I care for nobody, no, not I, if
nobody cares for me."
When spring begins his merry career, oh! how his heart grows gay; No
summer's drought alarms his fears, nor winter's cold decay; No
foresight mars the miller's joy, who's wont to sing and say: "Let others
toil from year to year, I live from day to day."
Thus, like the miller, bold and free, let us rejoice and sing, The days of
youth are made for glee, and time is on the wing; This song shall pass
from me to thee, along the jovial ring, Let heart and voice and all agree
to say, "Long live the King!"
_Isaac Bickerstaffe._

THE ANGEL'S WHISPER.
A baby was sleeping, Its mother was weeping, For her husband was far
on the wild raging sea, And the tempest was swelling Round the
fisherman's dwelling, And she cried, "Dermot, darling, oh come back to
me."
Her beads while she numbered, The baby still slumbered. And smiled
in her face, as she bended her knee; Oh! bless'd be that warning, My
child, thy sleep adorning, For I know that the angels are whispering
with thee. And while they are keeping Bright watch o'er thy