In the foregoing attempt, we have taken the liberty of remodelling and pruning the intermediate stanzas of an old free traditional Ballad, bearing the same choral terminations of "Billy boy;" while the first and concluding verses are necessarily original, by way of completing the chant. The air, tradition has attached to it, is peculiarly lively and spirit-stirring; and approaches pretty near that of our own Song, " Kelvin Grove," or, as an amateur would say, to an ear-set of "Robie dun a gorach." POOR AULD MAIDENS. THREE score and ten of us, Poor auld maidens! Three score and ten of us, Poor auld maidens! Three score and ten of us, Lame, and blind, and comfortless, Without a penny in our purse, Yet we bear a willing mind, Yet we bear a willing mind, Poor auld maidens! Yet we bear a willing mind, If we a young man could but find, For to kiss the lame and blind, Oh but young men are unco nice, Poor auld maidens! THE AULD WIFE O' LAUDerdale. Oh but young men are unco nice, Poor auld maidens! Oh but young men are unco nice, But oh! gin we were young again, But oh! gin we were young again, But oh! gin we were young again, 147 Noted down from the singing of a Lady, we never having met with the original in print. The modern song of "Nice Young Maidens" has doubtlessly been metaphrased from the above. The air is a tolerable one of its class, lively, and peculiar to the Ballad. THE AULD WIFE O' LAUDERDALE. IN Lauderdale there lived a wife, As canty a carline's ever was seen; The queer auld wife in Lauderdale; She growl'd on Tammie day an' night, Else he might cast anither spale: The queer auld wife in Lauderdale; She thought that Tammie never should fail! Youth, health, and strength are dauntless chiels, When they in a' their vigour shine; But hirplin' hostin' age comes on, An' fun and frolics maun decline: This ken'd the man in Lauderdale, The douse auld man o' Lauderdale; He fan' his strength beginning to fail, An' parts to cool in Lauderdale. A wonder-working doctor cam' To Dunse, wha' cured the blin' an' lame; To ease her pains in Lauderdale: O doctor, doctor, tent my moan, THE AULD WIFE O' LAUderdale. O wad ye come to Lauderdale, Ye maun come east to Lauderdale; I wauk a' night, an' sleep get nane, O ay, the doctor smiling said, I think that I cou'd cure your ail; Butter'd ale in Lauderdale; Gie Tammie that at ilka meal, "Twill cheer his auld heart in Lauderdale. The auld wife now gaed cantie hame, Quo' the snod auld wife o' Lauderdale; 149 Now a' ye wives baith far and near, Do like the carline in Lauderdale: Birsled pease in Lauderdale; A peck o' pease will cure your ail, It cured the auld man's in Lauderdale. The foregoing spirited and graphic Ballad is noted down from recitation, we never having met with the original in print. The penultimate stanza, for the sake of connection, is original, as the one which stood in its place had escaped the memory of our fair minstrel. www UP WI' THE WIDOW. WELCOME, my Johnny, beardless an' bonny, Gin ye be tentie, ye shall hae plenty, grain, man, your ain man; |