THE CHARMS of MELODY, SONG 64

Young Jamie loo'd me weel, and ask'd me for his bride; But saving a crown, he had naithing else beside; To make the crown a pound, my Jamie went to sea, And the crown and the pound were baith for me. He had nae been gane a year and a day, When my father Irake his arm, and our cow was stole away, My mither she fell sick, and Jammie at the sea, And auld Robin Gray came a courting to me.

My father cou'dna wark, my mither cou'dna spin. I toil'd day and night, but their bread cou'dna win; And Rob maintain'd 'em baith, and, with tears in his e'e, Said, Janie for their sakes, oh marry me: My heart it said nay, for I look'd for jamie back, But the wind it blew hard, and his ship was a wrack, His ship it was a wrack, why didna Janie die, And why was she spar'd, to cry waes me?

My father urg'd me fair, my mither didna speak, But she look'd in my face till my heart was like to break; They gi'ed him my hand, tho' my heart was at sea; So auld Robin Gray is a gude man to me: I had na been a wife a wee kbut only four, When sitting so mournfully out at my door, I saw my Jamie's wraith, for I cou'dna think it he, Till he said, I'm come hame, love, to marry thee.

Sair, sair did we greet, and mickle did we say, We tuk but a kiss, and tare ourselves away; I wish I were dead, but I am na lik to die, Oh, why was I born to say waes me! I gang like a ghaist, and I care not to spin, I dare na think on Jamie, for that wou'd be a sin; So I will do my best a gude wise to be, For auld Robin Gray's so kind to me.