THE GRUAGACH.

By Donald Alexander Mackenzie

The lightsome lad wi’ yellow hair,

The elfin lad that is so fair,

He comes in rich and braw attire —

To loose the kine within the byre —

My lightsome lad, my leering lad,

He's tittering here; he's tittering there —

I'll hear him plain, but seek in vain

To find my lad wi’ yellow hair.

He's dressed so fine, he's dressed so grand,

A supple switch is in his hand;

I've seen while I a-milking sat

The shadow of his beaver hat.

My lightsome lad, my leering lad,

He's tittering here; he's tittering there —

I'll hear him plain, but seek in vain

To find my lad wi’ yellow hair.

My chuckling lad, so full o’ fun,

Around the corners he will run;

Behind the door he'll sometimes jink,

And blow to make my candle blink.

My lightsome lad, my leering lad,

He's tittering here; he's tittering there —

I'll hear him plain, but seek in vain

To find my lad wi’ yellow hair.

The elfin lad that is so braw,

He'll sometimes hide among the straw;

He's sometimes leering from the loft —

He's tittering low and tripping soft.

My lightsome lad, my leering lad,

He's tittering here; he's tittering there —

I'll hear him plain, but seek in vain

To find my lad wi’ yellow hair.

And every time I'll milk the kine

He'll have his share — the luck be mine!

I'll pour it in yon hollowed stone,

He'll sup it when he's all alone —

My lightsome lad, my leering lad,

He's tittering here; he's tittering there —

I'll hear him plain, but seek in vain

To find my lad wi’ yellow hair.

O me! if I'd his milk forget,

Nor cream, nor butter I would get;

Ye needna’ tell — I ken full well —

On all my kine he'd cast his spell.

My lightsome lad, my leering lad,

He's tittering here; he's tittering there —

I'll hear him plain, but seek in vain

To find my lad wi’ yellow hair.

On nights when I would rest at ease,

The merry lad begins to tease;

He'll loose the kine to take me out,

And titter while I move about.

My lightsome lad, my leering lad,

He's tittering here; he's tittering there —

I'll hear him plain, but seek in vain

To find my lad wi’ yellow hair.