The Strange Visitor

A wife was sitting at her reel ae night;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' braid braid soles, and sat down at the fireside;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' sma' sma' legs, and sat down on the braid braid soles;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' muckle muckle knees, and sat down on the sma' sma' legs;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' sma' sma' thees, and sat down on the muckle muckle knees;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' muckle muckle hips, and sat down on the sma' sma' thees;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a sma' sma' waist, and sat down on the muckle muckle hips;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' braid braid shouthers, and sat down on the sma' sma' waist;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' sma' sma' arms, and sat down on the braid braid shouthers;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a pair o' muckle muckle hands, and sat down on the sma' sma' arms;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a sma' sma' neck, and sat down on the braid braid shouthers;
And aye she sat, and aye she reeled, and aye she wished for company.

In came a great big head, and sat down on the sma' sma' neck.

'What way hae ye sic braid braid feet?' quo' the wife.
'Muckle ganging, muckle ganging.'

'What way hae ye sic sma' sma' legs ?'
'Aih-h-h! late and wee-e-e moul.'

'What way hae ye sic muckle muckle knees?'
'Muckle praying, muckle praying.'

'What way hae ye sic sma' sma' thees?'
'Aih-h-h! late and wee-e-e moul.'

'What way hae ye sic big big hips?'
'Muckle sitting, muckle sitting.'

'What way hae ye sic a sma' sma' waist?'
'Aih-h-h! late and wee-e-e moul.'

'What way hae ye sic braid braid shouthers?'
'Wi' carrying broom, wi' carrying broom.'

'What way hae ye sic sma' sma' arms?'
'Aih-h-h! late and wee-e-e moul.'

'What way hae ye sic muckle muckle hands?'
'Threshing wi' an iron flail, threshing wi' an iron flail.'

'What way hae ye sic a sma' sma' neck?'
'Aih-h-h! late and wee-e-e moul.'

'What way hae ye sic a muckle muckle head?'
'Muckle wit, muckle wit.'

'What do ye come for?'
'FOR YOU!'

        [The meaning of 'Aih-h-h! late and wee-e-e moul' is obscure.
        [It may be 'Up late and little food.'

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