Richie Story
No: 232; variant: 232A
- THE Earl of Wigton had three daughters,
Oh and a waly, but they were unco bonnie!
The eldest of them had the far brawest house,
But she's fallen in love with her footman-laddie.
- As she was a walking doun by yon river-side,
Oh and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
There she espied her own footman,
With ribbons hanging over his shoulders sae bonnie.
- 'Here's a letter to you, madame,
Here's a letter to you, madame;
The Earl of Hume is waiting on,
And he has his service to you, madame.'
- 'I'll have none of his service,' says she,
'I'll have none of his service,' says she,
'For I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
That I'll marry none but you, Ritchie.'
- 'O say not so again, madame,
O say not so again, madame;
For I have neither lands nor rents
For to keep you on, madam.'
- 'I'll live where eer you please, Ritchie,
I'll live where eer you please, [Ritchie,]
And I'll be ready at your ca',
Either late or early, Ritchie.'
- As they went in by Stirling toun,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
A' her silks were sailing on the ground,
But few of them knew of Ritchie Story.
- As they went in by the Parliament Close,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
All the nobles took her by the hand,
But few of them knew she was Ritchie's lady.
- As they came in by her goodmother's yetts,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
Her goodmother bade her kilt her coats,
And muck the byre with Ritchie Storie.
- 'Oh, may not ye be sorry, madame,
Oh, may not ye be sorry, madame,
To leave a' your lands at bonnie Cumbernaud,
And follow home your footman-laddie?'
- 'What need I be sorry?' says she,
'What need I be sorry?' says she,
'For I've gotten my lot and my heart's desire,
And what Providence has ordered for me.'