20. The Farmer and his Bride- Scholee (CA) 1849
[This English ballad is known as the Golden Glove, or The Dog and Gun [Laws N20]. It was published before 1825 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 28(181)) and has been recorded by Bradley Kincaid, "Dog and Gun" (Bluebird B-5255, 1933).
R. Matteson 2014]
2O - THE FARMER AND HIS BRIDE
(Dog and Gun)
Contributed by Miss Bonnie E. Scholes, Glendale, California, July, 1927. Brought from England in 1849 by William Scholes and sung to the children of Samuel Scholes by their father. Music noted by Miss Alloe Drobish.
1. 'Twas of a rich squire in Plymouth did dwell,
He courted a nobleman's handsomest girl,
And for to be married it was all agreed,
And they wore to wed on the following Sundee.
2. The time being appointed for their wedding day,
A young farmer was chosen for to give the bride away;
But when the young farmer the lady did espy,
Her head was inflamed, oh my heart, how she cried.
3. She turned from the squire but nothing she said,
And instead of being married she took to her bed,
And the thoughts of the farmer so ran in her mind,
That a way for to win him she quickly did find.
4. Coat, ralstooat, and breeches the lady put on,
And she went a-hunting with her dog and gun,
She hunted all around where the farmer did dwell,
For ohr in her heart, she did love him so well.
5. She oftentimes fired but nothing she killed,
Till, at last the young farmer came into the field;
"I thought you had been present at the wedding," she cried,
"For to wait upon the squire and give him his bride."
6. Oh, Dor my honored sir, if the truth I must tell,
I'd not give her away, I love her too well.
7. The lady was pleased, to hear him so bold,
She gave him her glove that was flowered with gold;
She told him that she found it as she came along;
While she was a-hunting with her dog and gun.
8. The lady rode home with her heart full of love,
soon gave it out that she had lost her glove,
he that will find it and bring it to me,
that man I do vow his bride I will be.
9. The farmer was pleased the news to be told,
He took her the glove that was flowered with gold,
And said, "My honored lady, I have picked up your glove,
And now it would please me to grant me your love."
10 "'Tis already granted," the lady replied,
"I long have been wishing for to be a farmer's bride."
And when they were married she told all the fun,
How she had won the farmer with her dog and her gun.
Laws N20. See NC II 474.