27. The Suffolk Miracle
THE SUFFOLK MIRACLE (Child, No. 272)
This famous ballad has found its way through oral transmission to West Virginia, where it was recorded in 1919. In its long journey it has lost its name, and has become somewhat confused at the beginning; many stanzas have dropped out. Moreover, the incident of binding the handkerchief round the dead man's head has disappeared.
For texts from North Carolina and Tennessee, see Campbell and Sharp, No. 31. A Virginia text is reported in Bulletin, No. 7, p. 6.
"A Lady near New York Town." Contributed by Miss Polly McKinney, Sophia, Raleigh County, 1919. She writes: "Grandma Lester taught me the song when I was a little child. Grandma is eighty-five years old. She says the song is very old. Her mother taught it to her when she was a little girl." Printed by Cox, xlvii, 86.
1 There was a lady near New York Town,
She was proper straight and tall;
She was straight and tall,
And has a handsome face after all.
2 The boys came courting her far and near,
But none of them could her favor gain,
Except the wealthy old Squire's son,
Who courted her favor and won.
3 But when her father came to know,
He sent her three hundred miles or more;
He first declared and then he swore,
Back home she should never come any more.
4 The young man mourned, he wept, he sighed,
At length for love this young man died.
He had not been more than twelve months dead,
Until he rode on a milk-white steed.
5 "Your mother's cloak, your father's steed,
I've come after you in great speed."
As her old uncle understood,
He thought it was for her own good.
6 She jumped up all behind him,
They rode rather swifter than the wind,
In the length of three hours, or a little more,
He sat her at her father's door.
7 "Go in, go in, go in," said he,
"While I go put this steed away."
She knocked at her father's door,
The sight of him she could see no more.
8 Her father arose, put on his clothes,
Saying, "My dear child you're welcome home.
What trusty friend have been with you?
What trusty friend have brought you here?"
9 "Did you not send my old true love,
Who I should never love no more?"
It made the hair rise on his head
To think he had been twelve months dead.
10 They called old and young and to them did say:
"In love let your children have their way;
In love let children have their way,
Or else their love might them decay."