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“Cheerless is the evening grey When Causleen hath died away, But ever bright and ever fair Are they who breathe this evening air, And lean upon the self-bored stone Unseen by all but me alone.”
“...she rose, opened another door, which was concealed by the roots of an old tree...”

The song ended, Scantlie Mab asked Habetrot what she meant by the last line, “Unseen by all but we alone.”

“There is one,” replied Habetrot, “whom I bid to come here at this hour, and he has heard my song through the self-bored stone.” So saying she rose, opened another door, which was concealed by the roots of an old tree, and invited the pair to come in and see her family.

The laird was astonished at the weird-looking company, as he well might be, and inquired of one after another the cause of their strange lips. In a different tone of voice, and with a different twist of the mouth, each answered that it was occasioned by spinning. At least they tried to say so, but one grunted out “Nakasind,” and another “Owkasaänd,” while a third murmured “O-a-a-send.” All, however, made the bridegroom understand what was the cause of their ugliness; while Habetrot slily hinted that if his wife were allowed to spin, her pretty lips would grow out of shape too, and her pretty face get an ugsome look. So before he left the cave he vowed that his little wife should never touch a spinning-wheel, and he kept his word. She used to wander in the meadows by his side, or ride behind him over the hills, but all the flax grown on his land was sent to old Habetrot to be converted into yarn.

Old Mother Wiggle-Waggle

The fox and his wife they had a great strife, They never ate mustard in all their whole life; They ate their meat without fork or knife And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho!
The fox went out, one still, clear night, And he prayed the moon to give him light, For he’d a long way to travel that night, Before he got back to his den-o!
The fox when he came to yonder stile, He lifted his lugs and he listened a while! “Oh, ho!” said the fox, “it’s but a short mile From this unto yonder wee town, e-ho!”
And first he arrived at a farmer’s yard, Where the ducks and the geese declared it was hard, That their nerves should be shaken and their rest should be marred By the visits of Mister Fox-o!
The fox when he came to the farmer’s gate, Who should he see but the farmer’s drake; “I love you well for your master’s sake, And long to be picking your bones, e-ho!”
The grey goose she ran round the hay-stack, “Oh, ho!” said the fox, “you are very fat; You’ll grease my beard and ride on my back From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!”
Then he took the grey goose by her sleeve, And said: “Madam Grey Goose, by your leave I’ll take you away without reprieve, And carry you back to my den-o!”
And he seized the black duck by the neck, And slung him all across his back, The black duck cried out “quack, quack, quack,” With his legs all dangling down-o!
Old Mother Wiggle-Waggle hopped out of bed, Out of the window she popped her old head; “Oh! husband, oh! husband, the grey goose is gone, And the fox is off to his den, oh!”
Then the old man got up in his red cap, And swore he would catch the fox in a trap; But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip, And ran through the town, the town, oh!
When he got to the top of the hill, He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill, For joy that he was safe and sound Through the town, oh!
But at last he arrived at his home again, To his dear little foxes, eight, nine, ten, Says he “You’re in luck, here’s a fine fat duck With his legs all dangling down-o!”
So he sat down together with his hungry wife, And they did very well without fork or knife, They never ate a better duck in all their life, And the little ones picked the bones-o!
“And the little ones picked the bones-o!”

Catskin

Well, there was once a gentleman who had fine lands and houses, and he very much wanted to have a son to be heir to them. So when his wife brought him a daughter, bonny as bonny could be, he cared nought for her, and said, “Let me never see her face.”

So she grew up a bonny girl, though her father never set eyes on her till she was fifteen years old and was ready to be married. But her father said, “Let her marry the first that comes for her.” And when this was known, who should be first but a nasty rough old man. So she didn’t know what to do, and went to the henwife and asked her advice. The henwife said, “Say you will not take him unless they give you a coat of silver cloth.” Well, they gave her a coat of silver cloth, but she wouldn’t take him for all that, but went again to the henwife, who said, “Say you will not take him unless they give you a coat of beaten gold.” Well, they gave her a coat of beaten gold, but still she would not take him, but went to the henwife, who said, “Say you will not take him unless they give you a coat made of the feathers of all the birds of the air.” So they sent a man with a great heap of pease; and the man cried to all the birds of the air, “Each bird take a pea, and put down a feather.” So each bird took a pea and put down one of its feathers: and they took all the feathers and made a coat of them and gave it to her; but still she would not, but asked the henwife once again, who said, “Say they must first make you a coat of catskin.” So they made her a coat of catskin; and she put it on, and tied up her other coats, and ran away into the woods.

So she went along and went along and went along, till she came to the end of the wood, and saw a fine castle. So there she hid her fine dresses, and went up to the castle gates, and asked for work. The lady of the castle saw her, and told her, “I’m sorry I have no better place, but if you like you may be our scullion.” So down she went into the kitchen, and they called her Catskin, because of her dress. But the cook was very cruel to her and led her a sad life.

~ 32 ~