Child #10
Well-known, with many wonderful versions. John Jacob Niles sang, 'he gave the youngest a beaver hat, and the eldest sister thought hard of that." It was custom that the eldest sister should marry first. I met a woman in Minnesota whose older relatives sang it in Danish as they did chores.

Two sisters lived in yonder glen
Minorie O Minorie
One man came a-wooing both of them
By the bonnie mill dams of Minorie

He courted the eldest with glove and ring
But he loved the youngest above all things

He courted the eldest with all his land
But he courted the youngest with his right hand

Upon a morning fair and clear
The eldest came to her sister dear

Sister will ye go to the broom?
To hear the blackbirds change their tune

They walked up and down in the broom
And thrice the blackbirds changed their tune

She took her by the lily hand
And led her down to the river strand

She took her by the middle small
And dashed her bonnie back to the jaw
In the deep mill dams o' Minorie

She swam up and she swam down
Until she came to her sister again

Sister, sister reach your hand
Ye shall be heir of half my land

Sister, I'll not reach my hand
But I shall be heir of all your land

Sister, reach me but your glove
And Sweet William shall be your love

Sister I'll not reach my glove
Sweet William shall be my love

The miller's daughter came to the dam
For water to wash her father's hands

Father, father fish ye the dam
There's either a mermaid or a swan
Has drowned in the dams o' Minorie

The miller hasted to draw his dam
And there he found a drowned woman

And all among her yellow hair
A string of pearls was twisted rare

There's many saw her drawn from the pool
As many more came to her burial