A Bundle of Ballads

THE LITTLE WEE MAN.

     As I gaed out to tak the air
       Between Midmar and bonny Craigha',
     There I met a little wee man,
       The less o' him I never saw.

     His legs were but a finger lang,
       And thick and nimble was his knee;
     Between his brows there was a span,
       Between his shoulders ell-es three.

     He lifted a stane sax feet in height,
       He lifted it up till his right knee,
     And fifty yards and mair I'm sure,
       I wite he made the stane to flee.

     "O, little wee man, but ye hae power!
       And O, where may your dwelling be?"—
     "I dwell beneath yon bonny bower.
       O, will ye gae wi' me and see?"—

     Sae on we lap, and awa' we rade
       Till we come to yon little ha',
     The kipples were o' the gude red gowd,
       The roof was o' the proseyla.

     There were pipers playing in every neuk,
       And ladies dancing, jimp and sma';
     And aye the owre-turn o' their tune
       Was, "Our wee wee man has been long awa!"

     Out gat the lights, on cam the mist
       Ladies nor mannie mair could see,
     I turned about, and ga'e a look
       Just at the foot o' Benachie.