That elves and water-spirits have frequently solicited the help of mortal women at lying-in time is well known: See Stewart's Popular Superstitions of the Highlands, p. 104; Grimm, Deutsche Sagen, Nos 41, 49, 68, 69, 304; Mullenhoff, Nos 443, 444; Thiele, Danmarks Folkesagen, 1843, II, 200, Nos 1-4; Asbjornsen, Norske Huldre-Eventyr, 2d ed., I, 16; Maurer, Islandische Volkssagen, p. 6 f; Keightley's Fairy Mythology, pp 122, 261, 275, 301, 311, 388, 488 (note 1). They also like to have their offspring suckled by earthly women. It is said, writes Gervase of Tilbury, that nobody is more exposed to being carried off by water-sprites than a woman in milk, and that they sometimes restore such a woman, with pay for her services, after she has nursed their wretched fry seven years. He had himself seen a woman who had been abducted for this purpose, while washing clothes on the bank of the Rhone. She had to nurse the nix's son under the water for that term, and then was sent back unhurt. Otia Imperialia, III, 85, Liebrecht, p. 38. Choice is naturally made of the healthiest and handsomest mothers for this office. "A fine young woman of Nithsdale, when first made a mother, was sitting singing and rocking her child, when a pretty lady came into her cottage, covered with a fairy mantle. She carried a beautiful child in her arms, swaddled in green silk. `Gie my bonnie thing a suck,' said the fairy. The young woman, conscious to whom the child belonged, took it kindly in her arms, and laid it to her breast. The lady instantly disappeared, saying, `Nurse kin', an ne'er want.' The young woman nurtured the two babes, and was astonished, whenever she awoke, at finding the richest suits of apparel for both children, with meat of most delicious flavor. THe food tasted, says tradition, like loaf mixed with wine and honey," etc. Cromek, Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, p. 302.

	1   I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,
	      An a cow low down in yon glen;
	    Lang, lang will my young son greet
	      Or his mither bid him come ben.
	    
	2   I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,
	      An a cow low down in yon fauld;
	    Lang, lang will my young son greet
	      Or his mither take him frae cauld.
	    
	       *   *   *   *   *   * 
	    
	3   .   .   .   .   .   .
	      .   .   .   .   .   .
	    Waken, Queen of Elfan,
	      An hear your nourice moan.'
	    
	4   'O moan ye for your meat,
	      Or moan ye for your fee,
	    Or moan ye for the ither bounties
	      That ladies are wont to gie?'
	    
	5   'I moan na for my meat,
	      Nor moan I for my fee,
	    Nor moan I for the ither bounties
	      That ladies are wont to gie.
	    
	6   .   .   .   .   .   .
	      .   .   .   .   .   .
	    But I moan for my young son
	      I left in four nights auld.
	    
	7   ''I moan na for my meat,
	      Nor yet for my fee,
	    But I mourn for Christen land,
	      It's there I fain would be.'
	    
	8   'O nurse my bairn, nourice,' she says,
	      'Till he stan at your knee,
	    An ye's win hame to Christen land,
	      Whar fain it's ye wad be.
	    
	9   'O keep my bairn, nourice,
	      Till he gang  by the hauld,
	    An ye's win hame to your young son
	      Ye left in four nights auld.'
	    
	10  'O nourice lay your head
	      Upo my knee;
	    See ye na that narrow road
	      Up by yon tree?
	    
	11  .   .   .   .   .   .
	      .   .   .   .   .   .
	    That's the road the righteous goes,
	      And that's the road to heaven.
	    
	12  'An see na ye that braid road,
	      Down by yon sunny fell?
	    Yon's the road the wicked gae,
	      And that's the road to hell.'
	    
	    
	       *   *   *   *   *   * 

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