perhaps, but no less a favourite with the young, is
the amusing ditty of

THE CARRION CROW.

A Carrion Crow sat on an oak,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, eye ding do,
Watching a tailor shape his coat;
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, eye ding do!

Wife, bring me my old bent bow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, eye ding do,
That I may shoot yon carrion crow;
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, eye ding do!

The tailor shot, and missed his mark,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, eye ding do,
But shot the pig right through the heart;
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, eye ding do.

The next, though it has engaged the attention of
the adult population, is a prime old-time favourite with
the children as well.

MY PRETTY MAID.

"Where are you going to, my pretty maid?"
"I am going a-milking, sir," she said.

"May I go with you, my pretty maid?"
"You're kindly welcome, sir," she said.

"What is your father, my pretty maid?"
"My father's a farmer, sir," she said.

"What is your fortune, my pretty maid?"
"My face is my fortune, sir," she said.

"Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid."
"Nobody asked you, sir," she said.

The original of the following, which has delighted particularly the
children of Scotland for many generations, appears with its pleasing air
in Johnson's _Musical Museum_:--

CAN YOU SEW CUSHIONS?

O can ye sew cushions?
Or can ye sew sheets?
An' can ye sing ba-la-loo
When the bairnie greets?

An' hee an' ba, birdie,
An' hee an' ba, lamb,
Ah' hee an' ba, birdie,
My bonnie wee man.

Hee O, wee O, what'll I do wi' ye?
Black is the life that I lead wi' ye;
Owre mony o' ye, little to gie ye,
Hee O, wee O, what'll I do wi' ye?

Now hush-a-ba, lammie,
An' hush-a-ba, dear;
Now hush-a-ba, lammie,
Thy minnie is here,
The wild wind is ravin',
Thy minnie's heart's sair;
The wild wind is ravin',
An' ye dinna care.

Hee O, wee O, etc.

Sing ba-la-loo, lammie,
Sing bo-la-loo, dear;
Does wee lammie ken
That his daddie's no here?
Ye're rockin' fu' sweetly
On mammie's warm knee,
But daddie's a-rockin'
Upon the saut sea.

Hee O, wee O, etc.

O I hung thy cradle
On yon holly top,