A
Harris MS., fol. 23 b; from Mrs Harris’s singing.
1
Charlie MacPherson, that braw Hieland lad[die],
On Valentine’s even cam doun to Kinaltie,
Courtit Burd Hellen, baith wakin an sleepin:
‘Oh, fair fa them has my love in keepin!’
2
Charlie MacPherson cam doun the dykeside,
Baith Milton an Muirton an a’ bein his guide;
Baith Milton an Muirton an auld Water Nairn,
A’ gaed wi him, for to be his warn.
3
Whan he cam to the hoose o Kinaltie,
‘Open your yetts, mistress, an lat us come in!
Open your yetts, mistress, an lat us come in!
For here’s a commission come frae your gude-son.
4
‘Madam,’ says Charlie, ‘whare s your dochter?
Mony time have I come to Kinatie an socht her;
Noo maun she goe wi me mony a mile,
Because I’ve brocht mony men frae the West Isle.’
5
‘As for my dochter, she has gane abroad.
You’ll no get her for her tocher gude;
She’s on to Whitehouse, to marry auld Gairn:
Oh, fair fa them that wait on my bairn!’
6
Charlie MacPherson gaed up the dykeside,
Baith Muirtoun an Milton an a’ bein his guide;
Baith Muirton an Milton an auld Water Nairn,
A’ gaed wi him, for to be his warn.
7
Whan he cam to the hoose in Braemar,
Sae weel as he kent that his Nellie was there!
An Nellie was sittin upon the bed-side,
An every one there was ca’ing her, bride.
8
The canles gaed oot, they waurna weel licht,
Swords an spears they glancet fou bricht;
Sae laith as she was her true-love to beguile,
Because he brocht mony men frae the West Isle.
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