He cam' unto a widow's door,

And speird[143] whare her three dochters were.

"The auldest ane's to a washing gane,

The second's to a baking gane."

"The youngest ane's to a wedding gane,

And it will be nicht or[144] she be hame."

He sat him doun upon a stane,

Till thir three lasses cam' tripping hame.

The auldest ane she let him in,

And pinned the door wi' a siller pin.