"O wha was't was your father, Annie, "Or wha was't was your mother? "And had ye ony sister, Annie, "Or had ye ony brother?" "The Earl of Wemyss was my father, "The Countess of Wemyss my mother; "And a' the folk about the house, "To me were sister and brother." "If the Earl of Wemyss was your father, "I wot sae was he mine; "And it shall not be for lack o' gowd, "That ye your love sall tyne. "For I have seven ships o' mine ain, "A' loaded to the brim; "And I will gie them a' to thee, "Wi' four to thine eldest son. "But thanks to a' the powers in heaven, "That I gae maiden hame!" FOOTNOTES: [9] _Scoup_--Go, or rather fly. [10] To keep her from changing countenance. THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL. A FRAGMENT. NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. * * * * * There lived a wife at Usher's Well, And a wealthy wife was she; She had three stout and stalwart sons, And sent them o'er the sea. They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely ane, Whan word came to the carline wife, That her three sons were gane. They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely three, Whan word came to the carline wife, That her sons she'd never see. "I wish the wind may never cease, "Nor fishes in the flood, "Till my three sons come hame to me, "In earthly flesh and blood!" It fell about the Martinmass, Whan nights are lang and mirk, The carline wife's three sons came hame, And their hats were o' the birk. It neither grew in syke nor ditch, Nor yet in ony sheugh; But at the gates o' Paradise, That birk grew fair eneugh. * * * * * "Blow up the fire, my maidens! "Bring water from the well! "For a' my house shall feast this night, "Since my three sons are well." And she has made to them a bed, She's made it large and wide; And she's ta'en her mantle her about, Sat down at the bed-side. * * * * * Up then crew the red red cock, And up and crew the gray; The eldest to the youngest said, "'Tis time we were away." The cock he hadna craw'd but once, And clapp'd his wings at a', Whan the youngest to the eldest said, "Brother, we must awa. "The cock doth craw, the day doth daw, "The channerin'[11] worm doth chide; "Gin we be mist out o' our place, "A sair pain we maun bide. "Fare ye weel, my mother dear! "Fareweel to barn and byre! "And fare ye weel, the bonny lass, "That kindles my mother's fire." * * * * * NOTES ON THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL. * * * * * _I wish the wind may never cease, &c._--P. 46. v. 2.