9 ‘The deil tak you, ye silly auld wife, And an ill death may ye dee! For your dochter was lyin wi the book in her arms, And she’s prayin for you and me.’ 10 The auld wife still standin no far by, Still hearin a word, she said, ‘Ye may say as ye like, ye silly auld man, There’s a man in oor dochter’s bed.’ 11 I dinna ken what’s taen the auld wife’s fit, But into the creel she flew; The young clerk[‘s brither] being at the chimney-top, He found the creel was fu. 12 He’s thrown the rope out-owre his shouther, And to him he did draw; He’s drawn her up, he’s drawn her doun, He’s drawn her through and through. 13 Till the auld wife she began to cry, I’m just departin noo! But aye he drew her up and doun, And drew her through and through. 14 He’s drawn her up, he’s let her doun, He’s gien her evendoun fall, Till every rib on the auld wife’s side Played nick-nack on the wall. 15 It’s O the blue, the bonnie, bonnie blue, I wish the blue may do weel! For every auld wife that is jealous o her dochter May be rockit to the d----l in a creel! C Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 278. 1 As I gaed down to Collistown, Some white-fish for to buy, buy, The cunning clerk he followed me, And he followed me speedily, ly, And he followed me speedily. 2 Says, Faur ye gaun, my dearest dear? O faur ye gaun, my dow? There’s naebody comes to my bedside, And naebody wins to you. 3 ‘Your brother is a gallant square-wright, A gallant square-wright is he; Ye’ll gar him make a lang ladder, Wi thirty steps and three. 4 ‘And gar him big a deep, deep creel, A deep creel and a string, And ye’ll come up to my bedside, And come bonnily linken in.’ 5 The auld gudeman and auld gudewife, To bed they went, to sleep; But wae mat worth the auld gudewife! A wink she coudna get. 6 ‘I dreamd a dreary dream this night, I wish it binna true, That the rottens had come thro the wa, And cutted the coverin blue.’ 7 Then up it raise the auld gudeman, To see gin it was true; And he’s gane to his daughter dear, Says, What are ye doing, my dow? 8 ‘What are ye doing, my daughter dear? What are ye doing, my dow?’ ‘The prayer book’s in my hand, father, Praying for my auld minnie and you.’ 9 The auld gudeman and auld gudewife, To bed they went, to sleep; But wae mat worth the auld gudewife! But aye she wakend yet. 10 ‘I dreamd a dreary dream this night, I wish it binna true, That the cunning clerk and your ae daughter Were aneath the coverin blue.’