"Home when com'st thou back from roaming,
Merry son of mine?"
"In the north when breaks the morning,
O dear mother mine."

"In the north when breaks the morning,50
Merry son of mine?"
"When stones dance upon the water,
O dear mother mine."

"When shall stones dance on the water,
Merry son of mine?"55
"When a feather sinks to the bottom,
O dear mother mine."

"When shall feathers sink to the bottom,
Merry son of mine?"
"When we all shall come to judgment,60
O dear mother mine."


THE TWA BROTHERS. See p. [220].

From Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 61.

There were twa brothers at the scule,
And when they got awa',—
"It's will ye play at the stane-chucking,
Or will ye play at the ba',
Or will ye gae up to yon hill head,5
And there we'll warsel a fa'?"

"I winna play at the stane-chucking,
Nor will I play at the ba';
But I'll gae up to yon bonnie green hill,
And there we'll warsel a fa'."10