Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

THE SCOTTISH BORDEIJ. 79
THE CRUEL SISTER.
This ballad differs essentially from that which has been
published in various collections, under the tii\eof Binno-
rie. It is compiled from a copy in Mrs Brown's MSS.,
intermixed with a beautiful fragment, of fouiteen verses,
transmitted to the editor by J. C. Walker, Esq. the in-
genious historian of the Irish bards. Mr Walker, at the
same time, favoured the editor with the following note :
—" I am indebted to my departed friend. Miss Brook,
" for the foregoing pathetic fragment. Her account of
" it was as follows : -This song was ti'anscribed, several
" years ago, from the memory of an old woman, who had
" no recollection of the concluding verses :
probably the
" beginning may also be lost, as it seems to commence
" abruptly." The first verse and burden of the fragment
run thus :
—
O sister, sister, rcacli thy liand !
Hey ho, my Nanny, (> ;
And you shall be heir of all my land.
While the swan swims bonny, O,