The Twa Sisters (Child 10I)

There war twa sisters lived in a bouer,
Binnorie and Binnorie
There cam a squire to court them baith.
At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie

He courted the eldest with jewels and rings,
But he lovd the youngest the best of all things.

He courted the eldest with a penknife,
He lovd the youngest as dear as his life.

It fell ance upon a day
That these twa sisters hae gane astray.

It was for to meet their father's ships that had come in.

As they walked up the linn,
The eldest dang the youngest in.

'O sister, sister, tak my hand,
And ye'll hae Lud John and aw his land.'

With a silver wand she pushd her in,

'O sister, sister, tak my glove,
And ye sall hae my ain true love.'

The miller's dochter cam out wi speed.
It was for a water to bake her bread.

'O father, father, gae slack your dam;
There's either a white fish or a swan.'

Bye cam a blind fiddler that way,
And he took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.

And the first spring that he playd,
It said, 'It was my sister threw me in.'