All the Scottish versions (six in number) were obtained within the first third of the nineteenth century, and since then no others have been heard of, but the ballad has been obtained within recent years from the singing of poor children in American cities. B is considerably corrupted. It need hardly be mentioned that the age of the boys in the first two stanzas does not suit the story. The conclusion of B belongs to 'Sweet William's Ghost' (No. 77).
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