611
Mary Bowed
Lines 3 and 4 of stanza i are related to 'Lay This Body Down,'
Jackson WNS Nos. 34 and xxxiv (pp. 170-1 ). The second stanza
is from Nahuni Tate's Christmas carol beginning "While shepherds
watched their flocks by night." It is included in The J^irginia
Harmony (Winchester, Va., 1831 ), No. 53.
From Julian P. Boyd, as collected from Catherine Bennett, a pupil of
the school at Alliance, Pamlico county ; undated, but c. 1927-28.
I I wonder where Sister Mary's gone ;
She has been gone so long.
She's gone to some new buryin' ground
For to lay her feeble body down,
To moulder in de clay.
Marv bowed so low. Mary bowed so low,'
]\lar\' bowed so low. and so low.
2 Tlie shei)lierds watclu'd tbe flock by uii;bt.
All seated on tbe ground;
An angel of tbe Lord came down,
And glory sbined all 'round.