Campbell’s Tales of the Western Highlands (No. xxxii.), in Grimms’ Kindermürchen, No. I.; in Chambers’s Popular Rhymes of Scotland p. 52; in Halliwell’s English Popular Rhymes and Fireside Stories, p. 43; and in numerous other collections. J. Leyden in his Complaynt of Scotland gives it. He says: ‘According to the popular tale a lady is sent by her stepmother to draw water from the well of the world’s end. She arrives at the well after encountering many dangers, but soon perceives that her adventures have not reached a conclusion. A frog emerges from the well, and, before it suffers her to draw water, obliges her to betroth herself to the monster, under the penalty of being torn to pieces. The lady returns safe; but at midnight the frog lover appears at the door and demands entrance according to promise, to the great consternation of the lady and her nurse.
Open the door, my hinny, my heart;
Open the door, mine ain wee thing;
And mind the words that you and I spak
Down in the meadow at the well-spring.
The frog is admitted and addresses her:—
Take me up on your knee, my dearie,
Take me up on your kneee, my dearie,
And mind the words that you and I spak
At the cauld well sae weary.
