The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

549
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Cake and wine I will provide,
And a nurse to nurse the child.
But if my dear wife shall hain the charge.
As I expect she will,
And if she says, She'll nurs't hersell,
By my word she shall hae her will.*
PUIR AULD MAIDENS.
There are three score and ten o' iis^
Puir auld maidens
There are three score and ten o' us,
Puir auld maidens
There are three score and ten o' us^
And nae a penny in our purse
Lame, blind, and comfortless,
Puir auld maidens.
It*s very hard we canna get wed,
Puir auld maidens
It's very hard we canna get wed,
Puir auld maidens
It's hard that we canna get wed,
Or lie but in a single bed
Oh ! naething can be dune or said,
To comfort auld maidens.
O we are o* a willing mind,
Puir auld maidens
O we are o' a willing mind,
Puir auld maidens
O we are o' a willing mind,
Gin ony man wad be sae kind
* This and the preceduig song are copied from " the North Countrie
Garland," 1824; a collection of old ballads almost as good as manuscript,
since only thirty copies were printed.
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