46. The Crafty Farmer
(Child 278)
This story of the highwayman outwitted exists in two forms: 'The Crafty Farmer' proper, which Child presents in a version found in various broadsides but which has seldom been reported from tradition since, and 'The Yorkshire Bite,' which Child mentions without giving a text but which appears frequently in tradition, especially in America. The former is reported from Devonshire (Mason's Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs 43), from Scotland (LL 236-7), and once in America, from West Virginia (FSS 166-8). The latter, often printed as a broadside or stall ballad (see Kittredge's bibliographical note, JAFL xxx 367), is reported from tradition in Norfolk (JFSS 11 174-5), Berkshire (FSUT 253-4), and Somerset (JFSS viii 180-2), and on this side of the water in Newfoundland (BSSN 45-6), Nova Scotia (SBNS 39-41). Maine (BBM 406-13), Vermont (NGMS 97-102, CSV 26-7), Massachusetts (JAFL xxiii 451-2, xxx 368-9), West Virginia (FSMEU 149-52), Tennessee (FSSH 137-9), North Carolina (FSSH 135-7), Georgia (FSSH 140, fragment only), Michigan (BSSM 382-4), and Illinois (ASb 118-19). As a rule the texts agree pretty closely — probably because they are not far removed from the stall prints — but Combs's West Virginia text is amusingly Americanized; the farmer becomes a Staunton (Virginia) merchant and his man a South Carolina Negro who at the end is commended by his master:
For you have put upon him
A South Carolina bite.
A. 'A Yorkshire Bite.' Heard by Miss Maude Minish (later Mrs. Sutton) in Avery county. Date not given, but it was some time before 1923. The refrain is repeated after every stanza.
1 There was an old farmer who lived in Yorkshire
And now his story you soon shall hear.
There was a boy that he had for his man,
A Yorkshire lad, and his name was John.
Dudley ding, dudley ding dum,
Duldy, duldy doy.
2 Loudly the old farmer called for his man,
And unto his master he quickly ran:
'Go get the old cow and take her to the fair.
For she is in good order and her we can spare.'
3 He went a little farther, and there he met a man
And he sold him his cow for six pound ten.
He went to the tavern to get him a drink;
There was the old farmer, who paid him down the chink.
4 There sat a highwayman a-drinking of his wine.
Says he to himself, 'That money is all mine.'
5 'Sew the money in the lining of your coat,' said she,
'Or else on the mountain highway robbed of it you will be.'
(The boy starts to go home, and while he is on his way he is overtaken by the highwayman, who says to him:)
6 'Deliver up your money without fear or strife,
Or in this lonely valley I will end your sweet life.'
From the lining of his coat John drew the money out
And in the green grass he strowed it well about.
7 The highwayman instantly leaped from his horse,
But little did he think it was to his loss ;
For while he was a-gathering the money in his purse
The boy jumped a-horseback and rode away his horse.
8 When the kitchen maid saw Jack a-ridin' home.
For to acquaint her master she quickly did come.
He threw up the window and looked very cross :
'What the deuce, has my cow turned into a horse?'
9 'Oh no, my dear master; your cow has been sold,
And I have been robbed by a highwayman bold;
But while he was a-gathering the money in his purse.
To make you amends, sir, I rode away his horse.'
10 The saddle bags were opened all things to unfold.
There was five thousand pounds in silver and gold,
A brace of fine pistols; and the boy says, 'I vow,
I think, my dear master, I have well sold your cow.'
11 The old man laughed until himself he could control.
Said he, 'For a boy you have been precious bold;
Now, for your bravery and valiant career,
Three parts of this money you shall have for your share.
12 'As for the highwayman, he has lost what he stole,
But he may go robbing until he gets more;
As for the highwayman, you have served him just right,
You have fixed upon him a fine Yorkshire bite.'
B. 'Farmer John Robbed the Robbers.' Written down in 1922 by Ben Grogan of Zionville, Watauga county, from the singing of Mrs. Julia Grogan. It is the same version as A, with numerous minor variations due to oral transmission. The refrain is "Like others, others to round tinty oh." The defective place in A, stanza 5, reads:
Well, the boy went down in the bar-room to get him a drink.
The money was paid right down in jink.
There sit a lady in silk so fine.
Having that money sewed in his coat-line.
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46. The Crafty Farmer
(Child 283)
'A Yorkshire Bite.' Sung by anonymous singer. Recorded as MS score, no date or place given. This song is Child 283, not 278 as in II 188. For other texts and versions cf. BE 130, No. 1. Melodically, the beginning reminds one of 'Turkey in the Straw.'
Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abcbM (2,2,2,2,2) = ab (4,6) ; the second phrase is internally incremented.