26. Grandma- Hinkel (PA) 1927
[My Grandma's Advice is a song by an unknown author published in 1840 (The Lover's Harmony) and supposedly also The (Winchester) Virginia Sentinal and Gazette, March 2, 1795. A popular version as sung by the Tremaine Family was arranged by Edward Kanski and published in 1857.
R. Matteson 2014]
26 - GRANDMA
Communicated by Miss Lydia I. Hinkel, Morgantown, Monongalia County, May 15, 1927. Obtained from her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Hinkel Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania.
My grandma lives on yonder little green,
As fine an old lady as ever was seen,
She often cautioned me with care
Of all false young men to beware.
The first who came a-courting was young farmer Green,
As fine a young man as over was seen,
But the words of my grandma so rang in my head,
I could never attend to one word that he said.
The next who came a-courting was young farmer Grove,
With him I engaged in bonds of joy for love;
Such sweet and truthful love you need never be afraid,
'Tis better to be married than to die an old maid.
Oh dear, what fuss these old Ladies make,
I think sometimes there must be a mistake,
For if all the young ladies of young men had been afraid,
Grandma herself would have died an old maid.
See NC II 467-468.