Four Popular Songs (7)/The Miller

THE MILLER.

O merry may the maid be, That marries the miller,For foul day and fair day, He's aye bringing till her, He’s aye a penny in his pouch, For dinner and for supper,And gin she please a good fat cheese And lumps o’ yellow butter.

Behind the door a bag of meal, And in the kist was plenty,Of good hard cakes his mither bakes And bannocks were na scanty,A good fat sow a sleeky cow, Was standing in the byre,Whilst lazy puss with mealy mouse Was playing at the fire.

Good signs are these my mither And bids me tak the miller, [saysFor foul day and fair day, He’s aye bringing till her.For meal and malt she does na want, Nor ony thing thas’s dainty,And now and then a keckling hen, To lay her eggs in plenty.

In winter when the wind and rain, Blaws o’er the house and byre,He sits beside a clean hearth-stane, Before a rousing fire;With nut brown ale he tells his tale, Which rows him o’er fu’ nappy,Who’d be a king—a petty thing, When a miller lives so happy.

 

---