J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 2

346 MIKSTREI.SY OF
" O is there nae a bonnie bird,
" Can sing as I can say ;
" Could flee away to my mother's bower,
'' And tell to fetch Johnie away ?"
The starling flew to his mother's window stane.
It whistled and it sang ;
And aye the ower word o' the tune
Was — " Johnie tarries lang V
They made a rod o' the hazel bush.
Another o' the slae-thorn tree,
And mony mony were the men
At fetching our Johnie.
Then out and spak his auld mother,
And fast her tears did fa' —
** Ye wad nae be warn'd, my son Johnie,
*' Frae the hunting to bide awa'.
" Aft hae I brought to Breadislee,
" The less gear* and the mair,
" But I ne'er brought to Breadislee,
" AVhat grieved mv heart sae sair !
* (irar — Usually signifies gootli, but here spoil.