Classic Poem

There are three white hens i the green, madam,
There are three white hens i the green, madam,
But Richie Story he 's comd by,
And he 's stollen away the fairest of them.

‘O are 'int ye now sad, sister,
O are 'in[t] ye now sad, sister,
To leave your bowers and your bony Skimmer-know,
And follow the lad they call Richie Story?’

‘O say not that again, sister,
O say not that again, sister,
For he is the lad that I love best,
And he is the lot that has fallen to me.’

‘O there 's a letter to thee, madam,
O there 's a letter to thee, madam;
The Earl of Hume and Skimmerjim,
For to be sweethearts to thee, madam.’

‘But I 'll hae none of them, Richie,
But I 'll hae none of them, Richie,
For I have made a vow, and I 'll keep it true,
I 'll have none but Ric[h]ie Story.’

‘O say not that again, madam,
O say not that again, madam,
For the Earl of Hume and Skimmerjim,
They are men of high renown.’

‘Musslebury 's mine, Richie,
Musslebury 's mine, Richie,
And a' that 's mine it shall be thine,
If you will marry me, Richie.’

As she went up through Glasgow city,
Her gold watch was shining pretty;
Many [a] lord bade her good day,
But none thought she was a footman's lady.

As she went up through London city,
There she met her scolding minny:
‘Cast off your silks and kilt your coats,
And muck the byre wi Richie Story.’

‘Hold your tongue, my scolding minnie,
Hold your tongue, my scolding minnie;
For I 'll cast of my silks and kilt my coats,
And muck the byres wi Richie Story.’