NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH.
379
When she cam till the chalmer in,
Down the bairns' cheeks the tears did rin.
Down the bairns' cheeks the tears did rin.
She buskit the tane, and she brush'd it there;
She kem'd and plaited the tither's hair.
She kem'd and plaited the tither's hair.
The thirden she doodl'd upon her knee,
And the fourthen*****
And the fourthen*****
She's ta'en the fiften upon her lap,
And sweetly******
And sweetly******
Till her eldest dochter syne said she,
"Ye bid Child Dyring come here to me."
"Ye bid Child Dyring come here to me."
Whan he cam till the chalmer in,
Wi' angry mood she said to him:
Wi' angry mood she said to him:
"I left you routh o' ale and bread;
My bairnies quail for hunger and need.
My bairnies quail for hunger and need.
"I left ahind me braw bowsters blae;
My bairnies are liggin i' the bare strae.
My bairnies are liggin i' the bare strae.
"I left ye sae mony a groff wax light;
My bairnies ligg i' the mark a' night.
My bairnies ligg i' the mark a' night.
"Gin aft I come back to visit thee,
Wae, dowy, and weary thy luck shall be."
Wae, dowy, and weary thy luck shall be."
Up spak little Kirstin in bed that lay:
"To thy bairnies I'll do the best I may."
"To thy bairnies I'll do the best I may."
Ay when they heard the dog nir and bell,
Sae gae they the bairnies bread and ale.
Sae gae they the bairnies bread and ale.
