Young Grigor's Ghost (1870-1885)

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Young Grigor's Ghost.

YOUNG

GRIGOR'S GHOST,

AN

OLD SCOTCH SONG.

PRINTED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS.

GRIGOR'S GHOST.

Come all ye young lovers in Scotland draw near,
Unto this sad story which now ye shall hear,
Coneerning two lovers that lived in the north,
Amongst the high mountains that stand beyond Forth.
This maid was the daughter of a gentleman
Of the name of M'Farlane, and of the same clan;
But Grigor was born in a Highland isle,
And by blood relation her cousin we style.

But where riehes are wanting we oftentimes see
Few men are esteemed for their pedigree.
The father was foreed, when he was a child,
To leave this realm; and, when he was exiled,
His lands they were forfeit, I let you know,
Because of rebellion, the truth for to show.
Both gold and vast riches he with him did give
For his education, and how he might live.

And solely he to the care of his friend,
Was left by his father to be maintained;
He learned him, indeed, to read and to write,
In all rules of Arithmetic he made him perfect;
In Latin and French he taught him also,
That he through the world was fit for to go
. The king was recruiting, and all hands did employ,
While her father as a servant used this young boy.

For all kinds of drudgery he made him to serve,
And still to keep him as a eorps of reserve;
Sueh a beautiful young man was not in the plaee,
None could eompare with him in stature and graee.
The charming Miss Katie was oft in the way,
One day in love's passion she to him did say—
My dear eousin Grigor, I've something to tell,
Which now from my bosom this day I reveal:

You know that with lovers I'm plagued to the heart,
But you are the object that makes me to smart;
If you do but love me, dear eousin, said she,
I'm happy for ever, so therefore be free.
Then, said he, dear Katie, I'm all in a stun,
I suppose your intentions are nothing but fun;
But had I a subject to balanee with you,
I'd think myself happy your suit I might trow.

O, said she, dear Grigor, I'm no way in jest,
And if you deny me then death's my request;
You know the substanee and wealth that I have,
'Tis enough to uphold us both gallant and brave.
I know that my parents for more riches are bent,
But a few years by nature will make them extinct.
Till whieh time, my Grigor, I do make this vow,
That I never will marry another but you.

O, then he eonsented and flew to her arms,
And said, my dear Katie, I'm killed by your eharms;
But if your parents this fond love should know,
They soon will cause our sad overthrow.
Of that, my clear Grigor, be silent I pray,
This night we will part, and will meet the next day,
Under the breed oak by the cave in the glen,
Where more of my mind to you I’ll explain.

PART II.

Her mother next morning, by the blink of her eye,
Betwixt her and Grigor great love did espy,
And she to her husband the same soon revealed,
Giving orders to watch them as they’re in the field.
All day then her father went looking about,
And after her he still kept a look out,
Till hard on the evening she went to the glen,
Where Grigor was waiting to hear her explain

The way they would manage and make matters go,
Her father did follow and heard them also,
He stepped in softly, stood over the eave,
Hearing their diseourses, how they would behave.
At length he advaneed, cried Grigor what now?
Is this the reward from such an orphan as you?
You know I’ve maintained you since seven years old,
And now your intentions they seem very bold.

Then Grigor ask'd pardon, and thus he did say,
Sir, I'm at your disposal, then do as you may;
The old man in a passion there ehiding did stand,
Till Katie took courage and speeeh into hand.
Why mean ye dear father on us for to frown?
Was this man a beggar I'm sure he’s our own,
He’s of our kindred, our flesh, and our blood,
And you know very well his behaviour is good.

'Tis him that I ehose for my husband, and shall;
Go, give all your riches to whom that you will,
Do not think I'm a hog or a horse to be sold,
Away to some num-skull that has nought but gold?
The father in a rage to the mother did go,
And told their proceedings with sorrow and woe;
He seem'd that night as his anger had been gone,
Lest that young Grigor from the place should abscond
.

But he sent a messenger into Inverness,
Which brought out a ⟨party⟩ young Grigor to press
And for to make ready gave no time we hear,
He ask'd but one favour, a word of his dear.
When being denied, the old man with a frown,
Said, soldiers can have sweathearts in every town.
At this the young lady cried bitterly,
May the heavens requite you for your cruelty.

Young Grigor took courage and marched away,
When the Captain viewed him thus to him did say,
For the lady that lov'd you, sir, I pity her case,
Who's lost such a beauty and sweet blooming face.
His lady cried out, what a wretch can he be,
Caus'd press this young man for no perjury.
His long yellow hair to his middle hangs down,
O'er his broad shoulders so fine round and round

Now Grigor considering his pitiful case,
Received the bounty, and swore the peace;
His captain unto him a furlough he gave,
To see his dear Katie he once more hid crave.
Two lines he then sent her by a solid hand,
That he under the oak at midnight would stand,
For to wait upon her, and hear her complaint,
And there for to meet him she was well content.

Her vows she renewed, and with tears not a few,
And a gold ring on's finger as a token she drew,
Which was not to move, eome death or eome life,
Till that happy moment he made her his wife.
She fain would go with him but he answered no,
For your parents would follow and eause us more woe.
My Maker be witness, and this green oak, said he,
That I never shall love a woman but thee.

And there then he left her a-weeping full sore,
Poor ereature she never got sight of him more,
For in a short time thereafter he went to the sea,
And left the sight of Britain with the tear in his eye,
And went to Ameriea, their orders being so,
There proved a gallant soldier, and valour did show;
That for his good behaviour they ne'er could him blame
From a Corporal to a Sergeant he became.

PART III.

Being near Fort Niagara in the year fifty-nine,
On the thirtieth of July, as he always did ineline
To frequent the green-wood, at some distant place,
To breathe out his sorrows his mind to solaee.
Among the savage Indians, alas! there he fell,
But how he was murdered we cannot well tell,
For on the next morning they found him there dead.
Two Indians lay by him wanting their heads,

Cut off with his broad-sword as is understood,
As there all about him was nothing but blood;
Five wounds on his body, his hair scalped away,
His clothes, sword, and pistol, of all made a prey.
And one of his fingers from his hand they had cut,
On which was the gold ring from his lover he got.
In that very moment in Scotland we hear,
A dreadful spectre to his love did appear.

As she was a-weeping under the green oak,
He quiekly passed by her and not a word spoke,
Yet shaking his left hand, where the ring he did wear.
It wanted a finger, and blood dropped there.
Whereat the young lady was struck with amaze,
And rose to run after and on him did gaze,
As she knew it was Grigor, but how in that plaee,
It made her to wonder and dread the sad case.

With terror and grief home she did retire,
And spent the whole night in weeping and prayer;
So early next morning she rose with the sun,
And went back to the green oak to weep all alone.
For always she esteemed that place as we hear,
As on it she got the last sight of her dear:
As there she sat weeping and tearing her hair,
Again the pale spectre to her did appear.

And with a wild aspect it stared in her face,
Then said, O dear Katie, do not me embrace,
For I'm but a spirit though shining in blood,
My body lies murdered in a foreign wood.
There's two wounds in my body and three in my side,
With hatchets and arrows that's both deep and wide
My sealp and fine hair for a premium are sold,
As also my finger with the ring of pure gold.

Which you threw upon it as a mark of true love,
Love's stronger than death, for it does remove,
But my earnest desire it is for you, my dear,
And till you are with me I'll still wander here.
For this world's but vanity, all's but a vain show,
'Tis nought to the pleasures where we are to go;
She went to embraec him, being void of all fright,
But he in a moment went out of her sight.

Then home in great horror to her father die run,
Crying, O! cruel father now what have vou done?
Grigor, lov'd Grigor eame to me in blood,
And his body lies murdered in an American wood.
He showed me his wounds, and each bleeding sore,
And therefore my pleasures on earth are no more,
Her father looked at her as one being amaz'd
Then said my dear Katie, your brains they are craz'd.

But still she mantained it and eried like a child,
Never after was seen for to laugh nor to smile;
Brought to her all doetors, whose skill was in vain,
But still gave opinion she was sound in the brain.
Her body deeayed, her face grew wan and pale,
She soared to her true love, beyond death's dark vale,
First her, then her mother, in one night expired,
I hope she enjoys the bliss she desired.

Now the old father eries, bereft of all joys,
Though he has plenty of gold no girls nor boys.
Let all eruel parents to this take great heed,
His pretty young daughter is now with the dead.