Classic Poem

Charlie MacPherson, that braw Hieland lad[die],
On Valentine's even cam doun to Kinaltie,
Courtit Burd Hellen, baith wakin an sleepin:
" Oh, fair fa them has my love in keepin!"

Charlie MacPherson cam doun the dykeside,
Baith Milton an Muirton an a' bein his guide;
Baith Milton an Muirton an auld Water Nairn,
A' gaed wi him, for to be his warn.

Whan he cam to the hoose o Kinaltie,
" Open your yetts, mistress, an lat us come in!
Open your yetts, mistress, an lat us come in!
For here's a commission come frae your gudeson.

" Madam," says Charlie, " whare [i]s your dochter?
Mony time have I come to Kinatie an socht her;
Noo maun she goe wi me mony a mile,
Because I 've brocht mony men frae the West Isle."

" As for my dochter, she has gane abroad,
You 'll no get her for her tocher gude;
She 's on to Whitehouse, to marry auld Gairn:
Oh, fair fa them that wait on my bairn!"

Charlie MacPherson gaed up the dykeside,
Baith Muirtoun an Milton an a' bein his guide;
Baith Muirton an Milton an auld Water Nairn,
A' gaed wi him, for to be his warn.

Whan he cam to the hoose in Braemar,
Sae weel as he kent that his Nellie was there!
An Nellie was sittin upon the bed-side,
An every one there was ca'ing her, bride.

The canles gaed oot, they waurna weel licht,
Swords an spears they glancet fou bricht;
Sae laith as she was her true-love to beguile,
Because he brocht mony men frae the West Isle.