"Cauld mould is my covering now,
But and my winding-sheet;
The dew it fall nae sooner down
Then my resting place is weet."
Then up and crew the red, red cock,
Then up and crew the gray;
"'Tis time, 'tis time, my dear Marg'ret,
That you were going away.
"And fair Marg'ret, and rare Marg'ret,
And Marg'ret, o' veritie,
Gin e'er ye love another man,
Ne'er love him as ye did me."
THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL
There lived a wife at Usher's Well,
And a wealthy wife was she;
She had three stout and stalwart sons,
And sent them o'er the sea.
They hadna been a week from her,
A week but barely ane,
When word cam' to the carline wife
That her three sons were gane.
They hadna been a week from her,
A week but barely three,
When word cam' to the carline wife
That her sons she'd never see.
"I wish the wind may never cease,
Nor fish be in the flood,
Till my three sons come hame to me,
In earthly flesh and blood!"
It fell about the Martinmas,
When nights are lang and mirk,
The carline wife's three sons cam' hame,
And their hats were o' the birk.
If neither grew in shye nor ditch
Nor yet in any small shugh;
But at the gates o' Paradise
That birk grew fair eneugh.