She sent me to get shod the mare At Robbie Tamson's smiddie. Now t' smiddie lies ayent the burn That wamples thro' the claughin', And ne'er a time I pass that way But aye I fall a-laughin'. Singing fol loi de loi de roi, Ri fol loi de laddy, Sing fol de duy, duy day, Sing fol de duy daddy. Now Robin was a canny lad Wha had an ainly daughter; He'd niver let her tak a mon, Though mony a yan had sought her. I'll tell you news of my exploits The time the mare was shoeing, I steppit in ahint the lass And quickly fell a-wooing. It's aye she eyed my auld breeks The time that they were making; Says I, "My lass, ne'er mind my breeks, There's new yans for the making. Gin yell agree to gang wi' me, And leave the carle thy father, Ye'll hae my breeks to keep in trim, Myself and a together." The lassie smiled and shook her head, Says she, "Your offers clever; I think I'll gang awa' wi' yan, Well baith gae on the back o't. For gin I wait my father's time I'll wait till I bin fifty; So I think I'll tak ye at your word, And make a wife sae thrifty." Now Robbie was an angry man, For a t' loss of his daughter, Through all the town baith up and down, And far and near he sought her. But when he cam to our gude inn And found us baith together, Says I, "My lad, I've tick your bairn, Tho' ye may tak my mither." Now Robbie girned and shook his head: Quo' he, "I think I'll marry; And so I'll tak ye at your word, To end the hurry burry." So Robbie and our ain gudewife . Agreed to creep together: So I've ta'en Robbie Tamson's pet, And Robbie's ta'en my mither. CUPID'S GARDEN [Illustration: 9281] |As I were in Cupid's garden, Not more nor half-an-hour, 'Twere there I see'd two maidens, Sitting under Cupid's bower, A-gathering of sweet jassamine, The lily and the rose. These be the fairest flowers As in the garden grows. I fondly stepped to one o' them, These words to her I says, "Be you engaged to arra young man, Come tell to me, I prays." "I bean't engaged to narra young man, ' I solemnly declare, I aims to live a maiden, And still the laurel wear." Says I, "My stars and garters! This here's a pretty go, For a fine young maid as never was, To serve all mankind so." But t'other young maiden looked sly at me, And from her seat she risen, Says she, "Let thee and I go our own way, And we'll let she go shis'n." KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT |An ancient story I'll tell you anon Of a notable prince, that was called King John; And he ruled England with main and with might, For he did great wrong, and maintain'd little right. And I'll tell you a story, a story so merry, Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury; How for his house-keeping and high renown,