23. The Wealthy Merchant- Bell (WV) 1918
[This 1800s English broadside is also known as "The Charleston Merchant," "Jolly Boatsman" or "The Boatsman and the Chest."
R. Matteson 2014]
23 - THE WEALTHY MERCHANT
Contributed by Mr. A. F. Goff, Glenville, Gilmer County, April 20, 1915. Learned from Hunter Bell in 1919. Thurman Furr said it was
brought into Glenville by a horse trader of the name of Miller, who got it up in the mountains. Music noted by Miss Lydia Hinkel.
1. There was a wealthy merchant
In Charleston he did dwell;
He had a pretty women
And the tailor loved her well.
2. She met him on the highway
And these words she did say;
My husband is gone to sea.
So come and stay with me.
3. He hadn't been there
But a quarter hour or more,
Along came the merchant
A-knocking at the door.
4. It roused that tailor
In the middle of his sleep,
Saying, "O dear woman,
Whereto can I creep?"
5. "There is a chest
By my bed side
And in that chest
You safely may hide."
6. She went down stairs
And opened the door;
There stood her husband
And several others more.
7. She gave him a hug
And she gave him a kiss,
Saying, "O dear husband,
That's the meaning of this?"
8. "Well, I didn't come here
To disturb you from your rest,
But I'm going out to sea
And I came to get my chest."
9. In walked four men,
Both big and strong,
They picked up the chest
And they toted it along.
10. They hadn't gone more
Than a quarter mile from town,
The weight of the tailor
Made the sweat run down.
11. They set down the chest
For to take a minutes rest;
Said one man to the others,
"The devil's in the chest."
12. They opened up the chest,
Right there before then all,
And there lay the tailor
Like a piggy in a stall.
13. "I'll lock you in the chest
And I'll throw you in the sea,
If I don't drown you,
Well damn me."
Variant of LS
"I'll look you in the chest
And I'll drown you in the sea,
For I don't want you raising
Any tailor kids for me."
See SharpK I 338.
Laws Q8