The English and Scottish popular ballads, volume 4 (of 5)

by Unknown

48⁴. parted last with Annie. After 49:

Ye parents grave who children have,

In crushing them be canny,

Lest when too late you do repent;

Remember Tiftie’s Annie.

234
CHARLIE MACPHERSON

A. ‘Charlie MacPherson,’ Harris MS., fol. 23 b.

B. ‘Charlie M’Pherson,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 85.

Charlie Macpherson comes to Kinaldie with a large party of men from the West Isle to take away Helen, whom he has long courted, A 1, 4. Helen’s mother is obliged to admit them. When her daughter is asked for, MacPherson is told that she has gone to Whitehouse, to marry auld Gairn, A 5 (Dalgairn, B 12). The party go on to Whitehouse, where indeed they find Helen, and everybody there calling her bride. We expect a collision, and judging by A 8 there was one, with the bride wishing well to the assailants. But in B (where there is no hint that Helen favors her irregular suitor), MacPherson comports himself very mildly, and only wishes, as he goes off, that his heavy heart may light on Whitehouse of Cromar.

The ballad was known to Mrs Brown of Falkland.[^[136]] She gives it the title of ‘The Carrying-off of the Heiress of Kinady,’ from which it is warrantable to conclude that MacPherson was so far successful.