Bluegrass Messengers

 Ballads and Songs from Mississippi- Arthur Palmer Hudson
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 39, No. 152 (Apr. - Jun., 1926), pp. 93-194

BALLADS AND SONGS FROM MISSISSIPPI*
COLLECTED AND EDITED BY ARTHUR PALMER HUDSON.

*Abbreviated references: Campbell and Sharp (English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians); Cox (Folk Songs of the South); Mackenzie (The Quest of the Ballad); Pound (American Ballads and Songs); Reed Smith (The Traditional Ballad and Its South Carolina Survivals); Scarborough (On the Trail of Negro Folk Songs); N. Wolford (The Play Party in Indiana); Wyman and Brockway (Lonesome Tunes).

I. EDWARD. (Child No. 13.)
"The Cruel Brother." Communicated by Miss Annie Laurie Roberts, Poplarville, Mississippi; written down from memory by Jesse Harvey, a pupil in the Pearl River County Agricultural High School. See Campbell and Sharp, No. 7; Sharp, American-English Folk-Songs, Ist Series, No. I; Focus, III, 394, 395, 398--399; Combs Ms., fols. 14-15 (cf. Shearin and Combs, Syllabus, p. 7; Modern Language Review, VI, 514; Sewanee Review, July, 1911). Cf. Journal, XXVII, 62; XXVIII, 200--202; Virginia Bulletin, Nos. 2-4, 6. Perrow reports the ballad from Kentucky. For the first stanza see Child's C.

1. "What made you kill your brother, my son,
My son, pray tell it to me?"
"For cutting down that little bush
Which might have made a tree."

2. "What will you do when your father comes home,
My son, pray tell it to me?"
"I'll put my foot on yonders boat
And sail all over the sea."

3. "What will you do with your children, my son,
My son, pray tell it to me ?"
"I'll leave them with you, dear mother,
To keep you company."

4. "What will you do with your house and land,
My son, pray tell it to me?"
"I'll leave them here with you, dear mother,
To set my children free."

5. "What will you do with your wife, my son,
My son pray tell it to me?"
"I'll put her foot on yonders boat
And let her sail with me."

6. "When are you coming home, my son,
My son, pray tell it to me?"
"When the sun goes down on yonders high hill,
Which you know that never shall be."

2. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET (Child, No. 73.)
"The Brown Girl." Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi, with the following note:

"I obtained the following texts [See "The Rich Lady from London" and "Mary Blain"] from Mrs. Barnett, a very old lady living in the eastern part of Lee county. She sang the songs to me while I endeavored to take down the words. She said that she learned them from her mother when she was a child. Mrs. Barnett comes from a fine old family of English and Irish ancestry."

See Cox, No. io, whose A text has the same title and begins similarly to the following; Campbell and Sharp, No. 16; Pound, No. 12; Mackenzie, p. 97; Reed Smith, pp. 81-94; Wyman and Brockway, Twenty Kentucky
Mountain Songs, No. 4.

1. "Come riddle, come riddle, my old mother dear,
Come riddle us both as one:
Whether I shall marry fair Rillander
Or bring the brown girl home."

2. "The brown girl she has houses and land;
Fair Rillander she has none.
If I am to make the choice myself,
I'll say, bring the brown girl home."

3. He dressed himself in robes of red,
His crown so merry and green;
And every time that he rod'e through,
They took him to be the king.

4. He rode till he came to fair Rillander's gate,
And tingled at the ring.
No one but fair Rillander herself
To let Lord Thomas in.

5. "What news, what news, Lord Thomas?" she said.
"What news have you brought for me?"
"I've come to bid you to my wedding,
And that's the news for thee."

6. "Come riddle, come riddle, my old mother dear;
Come riddle us both as one:
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
Or shall I stay at home.

7. "I know I have but few friends there,
Where there are thousands more of all;
But I must go to Lord Thomas's wedding.
How can I stay at home?"

8. She dressed herself in robes of red,
Her crown so merry and green;
And every town that she rode through,
They took her to be the queen.

9. She rode till she came to Lord Thomas's gate,
And tingled at the ring.
No one but Lord Thomas himself
Would let fair Rillander in.

10. He took her by her lily-white hand
And led her across the hall
And set her down at the head of the table
Among the quality all.

11. "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she said.
"I think she is a mighty brown one,
When you could have had as fair a young lady
As ever the sun shone on."

12. The brown girl had a little pen-knife,
Which lately had been ground.
She pierced it through fair Rillander's heart,
And the blood came trinkling down.

13. He took the brown girl by the hand
And led her across the hall
And cut her head off with his sword
And threw it against the wall.

14. "Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
And paint my coffin black,
And bury fair Rillander in my arms
And the brown girl at my back."

3. THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL (Child, No. 79.)
"The Three Little Babes." Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi. He obtained it from Miss Lia Long, Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi, who copied it while her aged mother sang it.
For other Mississippi texts see Perrow, Journal, XXVIII, 144-146. For other texts from the South, see Cox No. 14; Campbell and Sharp, No. 19; Pound, No. 7.

1. There was a lady, a lady so fine,
And children she had three.
She sent them away to the Northern school
To learn their grammaree.

2. They hadn't been gone but a very short time,
Scarcely six months and three days,
Till death spread abroad all over the land
And swept her three little babes.

3. "Now if there is any Lord in heaven,
Or if there is any King,
Or if there is any Lord in heaven,
Pray send them back again!"

4. Now Christmas times were drawing near,
The nights they were long and cold.
She saw her three little babes
Come walking up to her.

5. She dressed her table so neat and fine,
And covered it with bread and wine:
"Oh, come, oh, come, my three little babes,
And eat and drink of mine."

6. "We cannot eat your bread, dear mother,
Nor can we drink your wine,
Our Savior stands a-waiting now
For us to come and join.

7. "Cold clods lie at our heads, dear mother,
And green grass grows at our feet;
The tears you have shed for us, dear mother,
Would wet our winding-sheet."

8. She dressed her bed all in the back room
And on it spread three white sheets;
She also spread the golden spread
Where her three little babes might sleep.

9. "Farewell, farewell, farewell, dear mother,
Farewell, farewell, farewell,
Farewell, farewell, farewell, dear mother,
I hope this will end your grief."

4. BONNY BARBARA ALLEN (Child No. 84.)
Four texts. For other texts from the South, see Cox, No. 16; Campbell and Sharp, No. 21 ; Wyman and Brockway, p. I; Reed Smith, pp. 104--I16.

A.
Communicated by Mr. Wesson M. Crocker, then a student in the University of Mississippi, now principal of the public school at Star, Mississippi, who learned to sing it in Calhoun County.

1. 'Twas in the pleasant month of May,
When the green leaves all were growing,
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbru Allen.*

2. He sent his servant to the town
Wherein she was dwelling,
Saying, "My master is sick and sends for you,
If you be named Barbru Allen."

3. And slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly went unto him,
And all she said when she got there,
"Young man, I think you're dying."

4. "O yes, I'm sick, I'm very sick,
And death's now on me dwelling,
And none the better I never will be
Unless I get Barbru Allen."

5. "0 yes, O yes, you're very sick,
And death's now on you dwelling,
And none the better you never will be,
For you'll never get Barbru Allen."

6. He turned his pale face to the wall.
She turned her back upon him:
"Adieu, adieu to the friends all around,
And a woe to Barbru Allen."

7. She was about a mile from town
When she heard the death bell tolling,
And every toll that the death bell tolled
Was a woe to Barbru Allen.

8. "Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Dig it both deep and narrow;
Sweet William died for me in love,
I'll die for him in sorrow."

9. Sweet William was buried in the new churchyard,
And Barbru by his side,
And out of her grave grew a blood-red rose,
And out of his a brier.

10. They grew and they grew till they grew to the top,
And they could not grow any more.
They tied themselves in a true love's knot,
For it was true love that they bore.

* I preserve Mr. Crocker's spelling, which, he says, corresponds to the sound of the word Barbara as it was pronounced by those who sang it, namely, Barbroo.

B.
From MS. of Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi, who has known it and sung it since she was a little girl.
Like A as far as the sixth stanza. From the seventh some variations, and one additional stanza, as follows:

7. Scarcely had she got one mile from town
When she heard the death bell knelling,
And every knell the death bell tells
Is a woe to Barbara Allen.

8. "Go bring him here and lay him down
And let me look upon him."
The longer she looked, the more she wept,
Till she bursted loud to crying:

9. "Go dig my grave both deep and wide;
Oh, dig it both deep and narrow;
Sweet William died for me in love,
I'll die for him in sorrow."

10. Sweet William was buried in the high churchyard
And Barbara by his side,
And out of his breast grew a blood-red rose,
And out of her bier a thorn.

11. They grew and they grew till they grew to the top,
And could not grow no higher.
They tied themselves in a true lover's knot
For all true lovers to admire.

C.
"Barbra Allen." Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, a student in the University of Mississippi; obtained from his father, J. R. Bickerstaff, Tishomingo, Mississippi, "who sang it when he was young and can sing it now."

1. While in the merry month of May
The green buds were a-swelling;
A young man on his death bed lay
For loving Barbra Allen.

2. He sent a servant to the town
Wherein she was a-dwelling:
"My master's sick and sends for you
If your name be Barbra Allen."

3. So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly went unto him,
And all she said when she gof there:
"Young man, I think you're dying."

4. "Yes, I am sick and low indeed,
And death is *on me dwelling;
No better, no better will I ever be
If I don't get Barbra Allen."

5. "Sir, do you remember the other night
In a gathering over yonder,
You gave your gifts to all around
And slighted Barbra Allen?

6. "Now you are sick and low indeed,
And death is in your dwelling;
No better, no better will you ever be,
For you'll not get Barbra Allen."

7. He turned his pale face to the wall,
While death was creeping o'er him;
He bid adieu to the nations: "You
Be kind to Barbra Allen."

8. She hadn't got more than a mile from the place
Till she heard the death bells ringing,
A ring and a knock at every door,
Crying, "Woe to Barbra Allen."

9. She looked to the east, she looked to the west,
She saw the corpse a-coming,
Said, "Set the lowly corpse down here
And let me look upon him."

10. The more she looked, the more she sighed,
Till she burst out to crying,
Saying, "Take this lowly corpse away,
For now I am a-dying."

11. Sweet William died on Saturday night,
And Barbra died on Sunday;
Her mother died that they might live,
She died the following Monday.

12. Sweet William was buried in the churchyard,
And Barbra buried by him.
Out of his grave grew a rose vine,
And out of hers a brier.

13. They grew and grew to the steeple top,
Till they could grow no higher;
They lapped and tied in a true-love knot,
The rose around the brier.

D.
Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi; obtained from Mrs. R. C. Jones, Oxford, Mississippi, who sings it.

1. It was in the merry month of June
When all the buds were swelling
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.

2. He sent his servant to the town,
To the place where she was dwelling,
Saying, "Master's sick and sends for you,
If your name be Barbara Allen."

3. Slowly, slowly she arose,
And slowly she went to him,
And all she said when she got there
Was, "Young man, I think you're dying."

4. "Oh, yes, I know I'm very low,
And death is on me dwelling,
And very little better will I ever be
Till I get Barbara Allen."

5. "Oh, yes, I know you're very low,
And I know death's upon you dwelling,
And very little better will you ever be,
For you'll never get Barbara Allen.

6. "Oh, don't you remember the other night,
When at the bar-room drinking,
You passed your health to the ladies all around,
And slighted Barbara Allen?"

7. "Oh, yes, I remember the other night,
When at the bar-room drinking,
I passed my health to the ladies all around,
And respected Barbara Allen."

8. He turned his pale face to the wall
And turned his back upon her,
Says, "Adieu, adieu, to my friends all around,
And farewell to Barbara Allen."

9. She hadn't got more than a mile from the place
When she heard the death-bell ringing,
And every toll it seemed to say,
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"

10. "Go dig my grave in the little churchyard,
Go dig it deep and narrow;
Sweet William died for me in love,
I'll die for him in sorrow."

11. Sweet William was buried on Saturday night,
And she was buried on Sunday,
And the mother died for the love of them both,
And was buried on Easter Monday.

12. They buried her in the little churchyard,
And Willie right beside her;
And from her breast sprang a deep red rose,
And from his breast a brier.

13. They grew till they reached the church steeple tall
And could not grow any higher;
They tied themselves in a true-lovers' knot,
The rose wrapped round the brier.

5. LADY ALICE (Child, No. 85.)
Three texts. For other texts from the South, see Cox, No. 17; Campbell and Sharp, No. 22; Reed Smith, pp, 117-118.

A.
"Giles Collins." Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, who obtained it from Mrs. Belle Holt Hubbard. (See note on "Sir Hugh.")

2. Giles Collins said to his mother one day,
"Oh, mother, come bind up my head,
And make me a pot of water gruel,
For tomorrow I shall be dead."

2. His mother she made him the water gruel,
And stirred it around with a spoon.
Giles Collins drank that water gruel
And died before it was noon.

3. Lady Annie she sat at her window,
Plying her needle and kyfe [coif ?],
She said, "There comes the prettiest corpse
That ever I saw in my life.

4. "Whom bear you there, ye six strong men,
Upon your shoulders so high ?"
"We bear the body of Giles Collins,
Who for love of you did die."

5. "Set him down, set him down, ye six strong men.
Upon the grass so green.
Tomorrow before the clock strikes seven,
My body shall lie by his'n."

6. They put Giles Collins in the east,
Lady Annie in the west.
There grew a flower from Giles Collins
That touched Lady Annie's breast.

7. There came a cold north-easterly wind,
And cut the lily in twain.
The like was never seen before,
And will never be seen again.

B.
"George Collum." Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi. He obtained it from Miss Ila Long, Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi, who copied it down while her aged mother sang it. This text is closest to "Giles Collin", the C version of Child, No.17.

1. George Collum rode home one cold winter night,
George Collum rode home so fair,
George Collum rode home so fair,
George Collum rode home one cold winter night,
When he took sick and died.

2. There was a girl in yonders land
That wore the silk so fine,
But when she heard that George was dead,
She laid her silks aside.

3. She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave.
Down upon her bended knees
She wept and mourned and prayed.

4. "Open up the coffin, screw off the lid,
Lay back the silk so fine,
That I may kiss his cold clay lips,
For I know he'll never kiss mine."

5. "O daughter, O daughter, why do you weep?
There are plenty more boys besides George."
"O mother, O mother, he has my heart,
And now he is dead and gone!

6. "Oh, don't you hear those lonesome doves,
A-flying from pine to pine ?
They weep and mourn for their own true love,
Just as I mourn for mine."

C.
"George Promer." Communicated by Miss Annie Laurie Roberts, who obtained it from Frankie Stewart, a pupil in the Pearl River Agricultural High School, Poplarville, Mississippi.

1. George Promer rode out one cold winter night,
George Promer rode out so fine,
George Promer rode out one cold winter night,
And he took sick and died.

2. And when they carried Little Annie word,
She was folding her linen so fine,
And when she heard that George was dead,
She laid her linen aside.

3. She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave,
And there she knelt upon her knees,
She wept, she mourned, she prayed.

4. "Lift up the coffin, take off the lid,
Lay back the silk so fine,
And let me kiss his fair cold lips,
For I am sure he'll never kiss mine."

5. "O Annie, dear Annie, why do you weep?
George is not the only boy."
"0 mother, dear mother, the only boy
I ever loved is dead."

6. THE MAID FREED FROM THE GALLOWS (Child, No. 95.)
Three texts. For other texts and accounts of texts, see Cox, No. 18; also, Pound, No. 13; Campbell and Sharp, No. 24; Wyman and Brockway, p. 44; Reed Smith, pp. 119-121.

A.
Communicated by Mrs. Calvin S. Brown, University, Mississippi, who learned it in the "canebrake" region of Alabama.

1. "Hangaman, hangaman, stop your rope,
And wait a little while;
Yonder comes my father,
He's traveled a many a (million o') mile.

2. *Father, dear father, did you come
To bri-i-ing me gold,
Or did you come to see me hanged
Upon the willow pole?"

3. "Daughter, dear daughter, I did not come
To bri-i-ing you gold;
But I did come to see you hanged
Upon the willow pole."

*Thus with "mother," "brother," "sister," "friend," until the "lover" appears, who is similarly addressed, but who replies, in the last stanza:

18. "Lover, dear lover, I did come
To bri-i-ing you gold;
I did not come to see you hanged
Upon the willow pole."

B.
Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, University, Mississippi, who says that she heard her little sister, aged six, singing it in their home near Water Valley, Mississippi. The child said that she had learned it "from somebody," but was unable, at the time, to recall whom. The text is like A in the Maid's speeches, but for some strange reason has lost the replies. As in A the rhymes "gold" and "willow pole" appear.

C.
"The Girl Freed from the Gallows." Commu-icated by Miss Annie Laurie Roberts, who obtained it from a pupil, Jesse Harvey, in the Pearl River County Agricultural High School, Poplarville, Mississippi, who sings it.

1. "Hangman, hangman, slack up your rope,
And wait a little while,
For I see my father a-coming,
He has come a many long mile.

2. "Father, O father, did you bring your gold?
Did you come to buy me free?
Or did you come to see me hung
Along the sorrow tree?"

3. "Daughter, O daughter, I did not bring my gold,
I did not come to buy you free,
But I come to see you hung
Along the sorrow tree."

Repeat as in A for "mother," "brother," "sister," and, finally, "lover," who says:

15. "Lover, O lover, I brought my gold,
I come to buy you free,
But I did not come to see you hung
Along the sorrow tree."

7. THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON. (Child, No. 205.)
"The Comely Youth." Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, from the same source as that of "The Wife of Usher's Well" and numerous other texts in this collection.

1. There was a youth, and a comely youth,
He was the squire's son,
He fell in love with the bailiff's daughter,
Oh, the lily of Hazling town, town,
The lily of Hazling town.

2. When his cruel parents came this to find,
That he was so inclined,
They sent him away down to London city,
Oh, and bid him a printer's bind, bind,
And bid him a printer's bind.

3. It happened on one bright summer day,
When the maids were out at play,
All but the bailiff's daughter,
Oh, how cunningly she stole away, 'way,
How cunningly she stole away.

4. She dressed herself in robes of silk,
Likewise in rich attire,
And started away down to London city,
Oh, for her true-love to inquire, 'quire,
For her own true-love to inquire.

5. After she had traveled a great long while,
Nine long months and a day,
Whom should she meet but her own true-love,
Oh, come riding along that way, way,
Come riding along that way.

6. She caught his horse by the bridle rein
And wheeled him around to her:
"One kiss from you," the lady cried,
"Oh, will ease my troubled mind, mind,
Will ease my troubled mind."

7. "Where have you been, all this long while,
And where have you remained ?"
"In Hazling town," the lady replied,
Oh, where many a sport we have played, played,
Where many a sport we have played."

8. The very first town that they came to,
He bought her jewels and ring,
The very next town that they came to,
Oh, he gave her a merry wedding, wedding,
He gave her a merry wedding.

8. SIR HUGH, OR, THE JEW'S DAUGHTER (Child, No. 255.)
"The Jew's Garden." Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, with the following note:
"Obtained from Mrs. Belle Holt Hubbard, Terry, Mississippi, aged 79; sung to her in her infancy at her home in Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi. "I am not satisfied with this 'Jew's Garden,' but am sending it as her
daughter took it down. It isn't exactly like she told me. The first verse seems different, and I know some lines or words were repeated. It is remarkable that Mrs. Hubbard has remembered the ballads at all. Her early life was spent in surroundings quite different from the ones supposed to foster the making and preservation of such songs. The Holts are of English ancestry and came to Mississippi in territorial days via one of the older Southern states. They are people of culture and had considerable wealth before the Civil War. When Mrs. Hubbard says she learned 'The Jew's Garden' in infancy, she means it was used by her mother to sing her to sleep. This is probably the reason the bloody part was omitted. Still, it's rather a gruesome lullaby yet. Has a 'the goblins will get you if you don't look out' sound."

See Cox, No. 19, the fifth stanzas of whose D and E texts resemble closely the fourth stanza of the following text; Pound, No. 5 (A), which agrees with the following text in the rain motif; Campbell and Sharp, No. 26, the second and third stanzas of which contain mention of the well and the Bible and prayer book, as in the last stanza of the following.

1. It rains, it rains on London lanes,
Both great drops and small;
And don't you see that little school boy
A-playing with his ball?

2. He played it high, he played it low,
He played it everywhere;
He played it in the Jew's garden.
The Jews were sitting there.

3. "Come hither, come hither, you little school boy,
And bring that ball to me!"
"I won't, I shan't; I won't and I can't!"
He answered merrily.

4. "I'll give you an apple as round as a ball,
I'll give you a gay gold ring,
I'll give you a cherry as red as blood."
At length she coaxed him in.

5. "Oh, Sister, dear Sister, when you go home,
And Father asks for me,
Oh, tell him, just tell him his dear little boy
He never more shall see."

6. They put a Bible at his head,
A prayer book at his feet,
And pitched him in a deep, dark well,
Full forty fathoms deep.

9. THE WIFE WRAPPED IN WETHER'S SKIN (Child, No. 277.)
"The Old Man Who Lived in the West." Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi. He obtained it from Miss Ila Long, of Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi, who copied it down while her aged mother sang it. For other texts from the South, see Cox, No. 29; Campbell and Sharp, No. 33.

1. There's an old man who lived in the West,
Dandoo, dandoo
There's an old man who lived in the West,
Clim a clation clingo
There was an old man who lived in the West,
He had a wife who was none of the best,
Lick the ladle, eelie badum,
Mealy and the clingo.

2. This old man came in from the plow
And asked his wife for his breakfast now.

3. "There's a crust of bread lies on the shelf.
If you want any more you'll cook it yourself."

4. This old man walked to his sheep pen,
And off he jerked a wether's skin.

5. He wrapped it all around his wife's back,
And with a switch he made it crack.

6. "I'll tell my father and all my kin
That you whipped me in a wether's skin!"

7. "You may tell your father and all your kin,
I'll do what I please with my own wether's skin."

10. THE RICH LADY FROM LONDON
Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, who obtained it from Mrs. Barnett of Lee County. For note on Mrs. Barnett, see "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet." In Cox, No. 114, there is a full note on this ballad.

1. There was a rich lady, from London she came,
A very rich lady called Sally by name.
Her riches were more than this world could possess;
Her beauty was more than any tongue can express.

2. There was a young squire worth a thousand a year;
To court this fair damsel, away he did steer.
Her being so lofty and her portion so high,
On this young man she would scarce cast an eye.

3. "O Sally, O Sally, and Sally," said he,
"I'm afraid your beauty my ruin shall be;
I'm afraid that your beauty my ruin shall prove,
Unless all your hatred will turn into love!"

4. "I do not hate you nor any other man,
But to say that I love you is more than I can.
I never will have you unless I am forced.
I beg you to retire and end your discourse."

5. Before six months had come, gone, and passed,
This beautiful damsel in love she was cast.
In love she was cast, and she knew not for why.
She sent for this young man she had slighted so high.

6. Oh, this young man he came in great speed.
"Oh, where does the pain pierce you, in the side or the head?"
"Oh, my dearest one, the place you've not guessed!
The pain that doth pierce me lies deep in my breast!"

7. "Am I the doctor, that made you send for me?
Or am I the cause of your misery?"
"Yes, you are the doctor, that you can accure,
And without your assistance, I'm ruined, I am sure."

8. "0 Sally, O Sally!" and "Sally!" said he,
" Don't you remember when you slighted me?
And don't you remember you slighted me with scorn?
And now I reward you for things past and gone."

9. "For things past and gone, I hope you'll forgive
And grant me some longer a time for to live."
"I'll never forgive you whilst I have breath,
And I'll dance on your grave when you're laid in the earth!"

io. She pulled the rings from her fingers, one, two, by three,
Saying, "Wear these for my sake while you're dancing on me,
For I have forgiven, although you won't me.
Ten thousand times over my folly I see!"

11. THE SILK-MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER
Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, who wrote the following account of it and of a version of "The Silver Dagger":
"On one of my collecting trips (I am making a collection of homewoven coverlets) some one gave me six ballads found in an old chest. Two are marked, 'Written by E. Varner for Miss L. Alfred, October 6, 1862.' One is marked 'Bethany'; the other just says 'A Song Ballad,' and begins-

'When I was young, of tender years,
My Savior did invite me.
My heart was filled with many fears,
And Satan did entice me,' etc.,

and runs to ten verses. Of course Mr. E. Varner didn't mean he composed the two ballads, but merely copied them for his lady love. The others are 'The Roving Gambler' - a little different from the Columbia record - 'The Irish Girl,' and two others, unnamed. These I am enclosing, hoping you can tell me their names and where I can get them complete. For they, like some of the lovely coverlets I have found, are full of holes and sadly frayed at the edges."

One of the two ballads to which Mrs. Williams refers in the last sentence but one is a version of "The Silver Dagger," which is given elsewhere under that title. The other is a version fragment or an adaptation of "The Silk-Merchant's Daughter," for which see references in Cox, No. 99. Cf. Wyman and Brockway, p. 38.

1. One evening in London as I walked out late,
A very fair damsel I chanced for to meet,
Saying, "Where are you going? Where are you bound ?"
"New England, New England, New England," said I.

2. "It is a fine country, so I am told,
But how for to get there I really don't know.
I am no great sailor, but an indifferent [hand],
But for my passage over I will do all I can."

3. The ship was all rigged and fit for the main.
With one consolation they all did set sail.
They sailed along with their hearts all content,
Till the ship sprang a leak and to bottom she went.

4. There was fifty-five of us, all in a long-boat,
All on the wide ocean along for to float.
Provisions grew scarce, and death it drew nigh,
And we had for to cast lots, to see who should die.

5. The lots was all fix'd and put in a hat.
Each man had his paper, each man had his lots,
And among all the others this lady had the least,
And she was to be slain by the one she loved best.

6. The knife was well sharpened the [deed to do],
"Let me hold your hand for a minute or two.
A rich merchant's daughter from London I be;
You can see what I have come to by loving of thee."

7. The gold that she showed him, the token, was broke.
"Come, come, my dear girl, this is a hard stroke.
Before I could kill you my heart it would burst.
In hopes of your long life, my love, I'd die first."

8. "Come, come," says Captain; "you can make amend,
For there is not many men would die for a friend.
But if you love one another, your debt you must pay.
Be quick in your business; no longer delay."

9. It was while they was all talking they all heard a gun.
"Come, come," says the captain; "you may all hold your tongue,
For I heard a gun as I do understand,
And I will insure to you we are near ship or land."

10. We sailed along with wind and with tide
Until we came to a city all on the seaside.
They took up housekeeping, and he made her his wife,
And he loved her as well as he did his own life.

12. VILKINS AND HIS DINAH
"Villikins and Dinah." Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Maaee, Mississippi; obtained from Mrs. Belle Holt Hubbard, Terry, Ballads and Songs from Mississippi. I 3 Mississippi, aged 79, who learned it when a girl from her grandparents in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. For an account of this' ballad, see Cox, No. 105.

1. There was a rich merchant in London did dwell.
He had but one daughter, an uncommon fine gal.
Her name it was Dinah, sweet sixteen years old,
With a very fine fortune of silerver and gold.

Chorus: Sing tu ra la, u ra la, u ra la, gay;
Sing tu ra la, u ra la, u ra la, gay;
Sing tu ra la, u ra la, u ra la, gay;
Sing tu ra la, u ra la, u ra la, gay.

2. As Dinah was walking in the garden one day,
Her father came to her, and thus he did say:
"Go and dress yourself, daughter, in gorgeous array,
And I'll bring you a husband both galliant and gay."

3. "But I care not for husbands," the maiden replied.
"Go do as I tell you," the stern parent cried.
"But all my great fortune I'll gladly give o'er
If you let me live single a your or two more."

4. As Villikins was walking his garden around,
He found his dear daughter lay dead on the ground.
A vile of cold pizen was there by her side,
And the billy-ducks said 'twas from pizen she died.

13. DOG AND GUN
"The Farmer." Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, from the source mentioned in the note on "The Wife Wrapped in Wether's Skin," "The Three Babes," and other ballads in this collection. Other versions from the South are Cox, No. 121, from which I obtained the American title of this "English song"; Campbell and Sharp, No. 52; Wyman and Brockway, p. 49.

1. Instead of getting married, she went to her bed,
The thoughts of a farmer so ran in her head,
The thoughts of a farmer so ran in her mind,
And the way for to gain him she quickly did find.

2. Coat, waistcoat, and breeches this lady put on,
She's now gone a-hunting with her dogs and her gun.
She hunted all around where the farmer did dwell,
And she thought in her soul that she loved him well.

3. Ofttimes did she fire, but nothing did she kill.
At length the young farmer came walking through the field,
And now to discourse with it was her intent;
With her dogs and her gun for to meet him she went.

4. "Are you going to the wedding?" this lady inquired,
"To wait upon the squire and to hand to him his bride ?"
"No, my dearest madam, the truth to you I'll tell:
I cannot give her up, for I love her too well."

5. It pleased the lady to hear him so bold,
She pulled out her glove that was covered with gold,
And told him she found it when coming along,
As she was hunting with her dogS and her gun.

6. Straight home went this lady with her heart full of love,
She spread it abroad that she had lost her glove,
And the man that would find it and bring it unto her,
She would freely consent his fond bride to be.

7. The very next morning the farmer arose;
He arose to the lady with his heart full of love,
Saying "Here, dearest madam, I have found your glove,
And I hope you'll be kind as to grant me your love."

8. "It's already granted," the lady replied,
"I love the sweet breath of the farmer she cried,
I'll be mistress of my dairy and the milking of my cow,
While my jolly, brisk young farmer goes whistling to his plow."

9. It was after the wedding that she told of her fun,
How she hunted up the farmer with her dogs and her gun,
And now she has got him so fast in her snare
She'll enjoy him forever, I vow and declare.

14. WILLIAM AND MARY
"Love Disguised." Communicated by Mr. A. H. Burnett, a student in the University of Mississippi, from the singing of Mrs. Nixon, a cotton picker nearly eighty years of age, whom he heard singing it near Rena Lara, Mississippi, a town on the Mississippi River. Close to Pound, No. 200, in the note to which attention is called to its resemblance to "The Prentice Boy," "The Rich Young Farmer," and "The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington," texts of all of which are included in this collection of Mississippi ballads and songs.

1. As William and Mary stood by the seashore,
Their last farewell to take,
Returning no more, little Mary she said,
"Why surely my heart will break."

2. "Oh, don't be dismayed, little Mary," he said,
As he pressed the dear girl to his side;
"In my absence don't mourn, for ?when I return
I'll make little Mary my bride."

3. The years passed without any news.
One day as she stood at the door
A beggar passed by with a patch on his eye:
"I'm home! Oh, do pity my love!"

4. "Have compassion on me; your friend I'll be,
Your fortune I'll tell beside.
The lad you mourn will never return
To make little Mary his bride."

5. She started and trembled, and then she did say,
"All that I have I will give
If what I ask you will tell to me:
Oh, does my poor Willie yet live?"

6. "He lives and is true, but is poverty poor,
And shipwreck has suffered beside.
He'll return no more, because he is poor,
To make little Mary his bride."

7. "No tongue can tell the joy I feel,
Although his misfortune I mourn;
He's welcome to me, though poverty poor,
With his clothes all tattered and torn.

8. "I love him so dear, so true and sincere,
I'll have no other beside.
Those with riches enrobed and covered with gold
Can't make little Mary their bride."

9. The beggar then tore the patch from his eye,
His crutches he laid by his side,
Coat, jacket, and bundle; cheeks red as a rose.
'Twas William that stood by her side.

10. "Excuse me, dear maid," to her he said;
"It was only your love I tried."
So he hastened away at the close of day
To make little Mary his bride.

15. THE JEALOUS LOVER
Three versions of this song recovered in Mississippi are included in this collection. For a discussion of the song, see Cox, No. 38. Cf. Combs, Folk Songs du Midi des Etats Unis, 1925, pp. 203 -204. Compare the plot with that of "Pretty Polly," Wyman and Brockway, p. 81.

A.
Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi, who obtained the text from Mr. Mel Mayes, Pine Valley, Calhoun County, Mississippi. Concerning this text and the following B text Miss Womble writes: " 'The Jealous Lover' and 'Florella' were found in Calhoun County in localities about five miles apart, the one in the Old Field Community, the other in the Parker community. They are still sung there, with many verses identical, but to different music, to the accompaniment of a guitar or a mandolin."

1. Deep, deep in yonder valley
Where the violets always bloom,
There sleeps my own Florella,
So silent in the tomb.

2. She died not broken-hearted
While living in this dell,
But by an instant parting
From one she loved so well.

3. One night the moon shone brightly,
The stars were shining too.
Up to her cottage window
Her jealous lover drew.

4. "Come, love, and let us wander,
Here in these woods; alone
And free from all disturbance
We'll name our wedding day.

5. Deep, deep into the forest
He led his love so dear.
Said he, "It's for you only
That I have brought you here.

6. "The way grows dark and dreary,
And I'm afraid to roam,
Since roaming is so dreary,
And will retrace me home."

7. "Retrace you home! No, never!
Here in these woods you roam
You bid farewell forever
To parents, friends, and home.

8. "Here in these woods I have you,
From me you cannot fly;
No human arms can take you -
Florella, you must die."

9. On bended knees before him
She pleaded for her life.
Into her snow-white bosom
He plunged a dragon knife.

10. "What have I done, dear Edward,
That you should take my life?
I always have been faithful,
And would have been your wife."

11. Now Edward lies in prison
The remainder of his life,
For in an angry passion
He killed his promised wife.

B.
Also communicated by Miss Womble, who obtained it from Mrs. R. L. Blankenship, Pine Valley, Mississippi.

1. One night the moon shone brightly,
The stars were shining too.
Up to a cottage window
A jealous lover drew.

2. "Come, love, come go, let's wander
Down by the meadow gay;
Perhaps this very evening
We'll plan our wedding day."

3. Deep, deep into the forest
He led the weary way:
"No human arm can save you;
This moment you must die."

4. Down on her knees before him
She pleaded for her life.
Into her snow-white bosom
He plunged the fatal knife.

5. "Farewell, dear loving parents;
I'll never see you any more,
For so long you'll await my coming
At the little cottage door."

C.
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School; from a pupil.

1. One eve the moon shone brightly,
Where softly fell the dew,
There to a lonely cottage
A jealous lover flew.

2. He said to the fair young Ellen,
"Won't you come roam with me?
We'll wait and watch and wander
Until our wedding day."

3. She said to handsome Edgar,
"I do not care to roam,
But, oh, Edgar, I am weary;
And please take me home."

4. He said, "Oh, Ellen, my darling,
'Tis sad, but we must part."
There in her snow-white bosom he plunged
A knife into her heart.

5. She said, "Oh, Edgar, I'll forgive thee,
Though this may be my last breath;
I never will deceive you till
My eyes are closed in death."

6. Down in the valley where
The violets are in bloom,
There lies your fair young Ellen,
Asleeping in her tomb.

7. We know what she suffered;
We know not what she mourned,
But we know these words were spoken:
"Please, Edgar, take me home."

16. YOUNG LADIES (LITTLE SPARROW)
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi, who says that the song does not have any local title, so far as she has ever heard. For references see Cox, No. 140.

1. Come all you fair and tender ladies,
Take warning how you love young men;
They appear like a star in the summer morning,
First appear and then are gone again.

2. They'll tell to you some loving story,
Declare to you their love is true,
And away they'll go courting some other:
That's the love that they have for you.

3. Once I thought I had a true love;
Indeed I thought he'd be my own;
But now he's gone to courting some other
And left me here to weep and moan.

4. I wish I was a little sparrow
With tender wings that I might fly,
And when he talked of love to another
Then I would be close by.

5. I'd ask him who he meant to flatter,
If it was me he would desire;
All on his bosom I would flutter
With my little bended wing.

6. But as I am no little sparrow,
Neither wings nor can I fly,
I'll sit down and grieve in sorrow,
Sing and pass my troubles by.

17. YOUNG CHARLOTTE
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, Courtland, Panola County, Mississippi; from a pupil in the Courtland Public School who was able to sing it. For an account of the authorship and the popularity of the ballad, see Cox, No. 80, and Pound, No. 44.

1. Young Charlotte lived on a mountainside
In a wild and lonely spot;
There was no dwelling in five miles around
Except her father's cot.

2. 'Twas Christmas Eve, the sun was low,
Young friends had gathered there.
Her father kept a social cot,
And she was very fair.

3. 'Twas Christmas Eve; the sun was low,
She seemed a wandering eye.
And away to the frozen window went
To see the sleighs go by.

4. At length she spied a well known sleigh
Come dashing to the door.
Next was heard young Charlotte's voice,
Though loud the wind did roar.

5. "At a village fifteen miles away
There is a merry ball tonight."
"The air is freezing, desperate cold."
"But our hearts are warm and light."

6. "Daughter dear," the mother said,
"Put this blanket around you,
For there's a desperate storm abroad tonight.
And you'll catch your death of cold."

7. "No, oh no," the daughter said and laughed.
"Like a Gypsy queen
To ride with a blanket muffled up
I never could be seen.

8. "My silken coat it is enough,
It is lined throughout and out;
Besides I have a silken scarf
To tie my neck about."

9. Her cloak and bonnet soon were on,
She stepped into the sleigh,
And away over hills and mountains went,
And over hills and away.

10. "Such a night," said Charlotte, "I never knew;
These lines I can scarcely hold."
Then Charlotte uttered these few words:
"I'm growing very cold."

11. "This ice," says Charlotte, "is freezing fast;
It is gathering on my brow."
Then Charlotte uttered these few words:
"I'm growing warmer now."

12. He drove up to the tavern door,
Then jumped out and said,
"Why sit you there like a monument?
Surely you are not dead."

13. He asked her once, he asked her twice,
He asked her three times o'er.
He took her by her hands -
"Oh, God, they are cold, to warm no more!"

14. He twined his arms around her neck,
He kissed her marble brow.
His thoughts flew back to when she said,
"I'm growing warmer now."

15. 'Twas there he knelt down by her side,
And the bitter tears did flow,
Saying, "Oh, behold my blooming bride
That I shall never, never know!"

18. JOHNNY DOYLE
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, Courtland, Panola County, Mississippi; from a pupil in the Courtland Public School, who was able to sing it. Somewhat like Campbell and Sharp, No. 83, A version, beginning with the second stanza, and like the B version in the first stanza. See Greig, Folk Songs of the North-East, CII; The Singers' Journal, I, 53; O'Conor, Irish Com-all-ye's, p. 16; Journal of the Folk-Song Society, V, 142-144; Journal of the Irish Folk-Song Society, I, 66; De Marsan Broadside, List II, No. 50; Shearin and Combs, p. 27; Journal XXIV, 340; English broadsides (H. Such, No. 31o; Bebbington, No. 354).

1. Come all you young maidens that are crossed in love,
And kisses implore from the mansions above.
Since grieving is no pleasure, I'll consider it no toil;
I'll rove this world over with young Johnny Doyle.

2. But just as it happened last Saturday night
When I and my true love were going to take a flight.
My waiting-maid standing by so plainly did see;
She ran to my mother and told on me.

3. My mother enclosed me in a room that was very high,
Where I could see no one that was passing by.
She bundled up my clothes and bade me put them on.
So slowly, so slowly I put them on.

4. My father prepared me with five hundred pounds,
Besides a horse and five bills of ground,
And six noble horses to ride by my side,
In order to make me young Samuel Moore's bride.

5. We got on our horses and rode away to town;
We rode to Mr. Gordon's. and there we got down.
'Twas beside Samuel Moore's riches they persuaded me to stand;
Likewise they forced me to give him my hand.

6. But just as the minister entered the door,
My ear-rings did burst and fall to the floor;
In fifty-five pieces my stay lace flew -
I thought that my heart would have broken in two.

7. 'Twas behind my eldest brother they carried me home.
My mother dear conducted me into my bedroom.
'Twas down upon my bedside myself I lay so sick and rich,
And weary my body I found ..................

8. "Daughter, dear daughter, send for Johnny Doyle."
"Send for Johnny Doyle ? It's not worth while."
And the last words she said are, "..............
More love upon my heart than tongue can tell."

19. THE BUTCHER BOY
A.
Contributed by Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi, from a MS. sent her by her relative, Mr. Z. J. Jenkins, a former resident of Calhoun County. For references see Cox, No. 145.

1. Down in a village where I did dwell
A Butcher Boy I loved him well.
He courted me both night and day,
Till he courted my poor heart away.

2. There was a house in the same old town.
There he would go and he'd set down,
And take strange girls upon his knee,
And tell them things he won't tell me.

3. If that ain't grief, I don't see why,
Because they wear more gold than I.
But the gold will rust and the silver fly,
And then they'll be as poor as I.

4. Oh, when I had both silver and gold,
He would follow me through heat and cold;
But now I'm poor, got no rich kin,
He will pass by, but won't call in.

5. I ran upstairs to make my bed,
And nothing to my mother said.
She quickly followed after me,
Saying, "Daughter, what can the matter be?"

6. It was late in the night when father came home,
Saying, "Where has my daughter gone?"
He ran upstairs and behind the door
He found his daughter hanging loe.

7. He taken his knife and cut her down,
And in her hand these lines he found:
"Oh, what a fool it is of me
To hang myself for the Butcher Boy!

8. "Go dig my grave both wide and deep;
Place a marble stone at my head and feet.
And at my breast a snow-white dove,
To show the world I died for love."

B.
"In Kosciusko." Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, Principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School; from a pupil.

1. In Kosciusko where I once did dwell
Lived a soldier boy that I loved so well.
He stole from me my heart away,
And now my loved one will not stay.

2. It was just the other night he promised me
That he would take me across the deep blue sea,
But now he is gone and left me alone,
Like a poor orphan girl without a home.

3. His gold may shine, his silk may fly,
But I hope some day that boy will die.
He takes other girls on his knee,
And tells them lies he once told me.

4. Go bring me a chair and I'll sit down,
Go bring me a pen and I'll write it down
I'll write a few lines, I'll shed a few tears;
"Come home, my darling, come home, my dear."

5. The night came on, her father came home,
Inquiring where his daughter had gone.
He went upstairs, the door he broke,
And there he found her tied to a rope.

6. He drew a knife and cut her down,
And in her bosom these words he found:
"Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
And place a marble stone at my head and feet.

7. And on my grave place a mourning dove,
To prove to this world that I died for love.
I want this world to plainly see,
That I died for a man that didn't love me.

8. And I want this world to surely know
That I died for a boy in Kosciusko.

C.
"The Wrecked and Rambling Boy." Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, a student in the University of Mississippi; from his sister Mrs. Audrey Hellums, Tishomingo, Mississippi, who sings it. A variant of "The Butcher Boy."

1. I am a wrecked and rambling boy,
My dwellings are both near and far;
A wrecked and rambling boy I'll be,
To love a girl that don't love me.

2. "I love thee, Willie, I love thee well,
I love thee better than tongue can tell;
But all this world can plainly see
I love a boy that don't love me.

3. When Julia's father came this to know,
That Julia and Willie were loving so,
He ripped and tore among them all
And swore he'd use his cannon ball.

4. When Julia's father came home at night,
He called for Julia, his heart's delight;
He ran upstairs, the door he broke,
And found her hanging by her own bed rope.

5. He took his knife and cut her down,
And on her breast this note was found:
"Go dig my grave, oh, deep and wide,
And bury dear Willie by my right side."

6. Now Julia's dead and in the ground,
And all her friends stand mourning round,
And o'er her grave flies a little dove,
To show to this world she died for love.

20. THE WEXFORD GIRL
A.
"The Oxford Girl." Written down from memory by Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi, who describes it as one of the most popular 'ballets' in Calhoun county in her girlhood. This is a version of "The Wexford Girl" ("The Cruel Miller"). The corruption of the name Wexford is undoubtedly due to the prominence in North Mississippi of Oxford, seat of the State University and of the United States Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. See Cox, No. 90.

I. I fell in love with an Oxford girl
With dark and rolling eye.
I asked that girl to marry me;
She said, "I'll never deny."

2. I called up to her sister's house
At eight o'clock one night,
And her not knowing I was there,
I took her on surprise.

3. I told her that we'd take a walk
To view the meadow gay,
That we might have some secret talk
About our wedding day.

4. We walked along, we talked along
Till we come to Oxford town,
And there I upped with a heavy wood stick
And knocked that maiden down.

5. She fell upon her bended knees,
She cried, "Oh, Willie, dear boy,
Don't murder me here, oh, please,
For I'm not prepared to die."

6. I listened not to a word she said,
But I beat her more and more,
Until the ground where she lay
Was in a bloody gore.

7. I picked her up by her lily-white hands
I threw her round and round
I threw her in the river stream
That flows through Oxford town.

8. "Lay there, lay there, you Oxford girl;
Lay there, lay there, I say;
Lay there, lay there, you Oxford girl;
My bride you never will be."

9. I called up to my mother's house
At twelve o'clock that night,
And her not knowing I was there,
I woke her in a fright.

10. "O Willie, my boy, what have you done
To bloody your hands and clothes?"
I answered her in a low sweet tone,
"A bleeding at the nose."

11. I asked her for a handkerchief
To bind my aching head;
I asked her for a candlestick
To light my way to bed.

12. I rolled and tumbled all night long;
Not a moment did I sleep,
For the demons of hell around my bed,
And I could not sleep a wink.

13. Six days, six weeks, six weeks or more,
This maiden's body was found,
Floating down the deep river stream
That flows through Oxford town.

14. Her brother swore my life away,
He swore it o'er and o'er;
He swore that I was the very boy
That caused his sister's death.

15. O Lordy, they're going to hang me now
Between the earth and sky;
They're going to hang me by the neck -
What an awful death to die!

B.
"The Oxford Girl." Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, a student in the University of Mississippi, who obtained it from his sister, Mrs. Audrey Hellums, of Tishomingo, Mississippi. In a letter to her brother,
Mrs. Hellums remarks of the ballad: "I think there is a verse or two missing, but I can't remember it or them. There are some places where the language is not very good; but this is the only way I ever knew the
ballad." Mr. Bickerstaff states that this ballad was once very popular in his county, Tishomingo. This county, situated in the extreme northeastern corner of Mississippi and bordered partially by the Tennessee River and the states of Tennessee and Alabama, is a hundred miles north of Calhoun County, from which the A version and many of the other specimens in this collection were obtained.

1. It was in the town of Oxford
I used to live and dwell;
It was in the town of Oxford
I ran a flour mill.

2. I fell in love with an Oxford girl
With dark and rolling eye.
I asked her if she'd marry me.
She said she'd never deny.

3. I asked her to take a walk with me
To view the meadows gay,
That we might have some secret talk
And appoint our wedding day.

4. We walked along, we talked along
Till we came to level ground,
And there I picked up a hedgewood stake
And knocked that fair maid down.

5. She came to me on bended knees;
"Have mercy, Lord," she cried.
"Don't murder me, Willie, my dear;
I'm not prepared to die."

6. Of the Oxford girl I never took heed.
I beat her more and more,
Till the flames of hell around me seemed
Almost to crack and roar.

7. I picked her up by the yellow locks;
I slung her round and round;
I carried her to the river's side
And slung her in to drown.

8. I called at my mother's house
At twelve o'clock that night.
My mother, being weary,
Woke up into a fright.

9. "God bless you, son - what have you done?
You've bloodied your hands and clothes."
The answer I gave her was,
"I'm bleeding at the nose."

10. I asked her for a candle
To light me off to bed,
And also for a handkerchief
To bind my aching head.

11. I rolled and I tumbled;
I could not sleep no more,
For the flames of hell around me
Seemed almost in a roar.

12. A day or two after that
The Oxford girl was found
Afloating down the river stream
That flows through Oxford town.

13. Oh, Lord, they're going to hang me -
The death I hate to die;
Oh, Lord, they're going to hang me
Between the earth and sky.

C.
"The Expert Girl." Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public school, who obtained it from a pupil. Agrees substantially with the A and B texts, except that it possesses a stanza explaining the motive for the murder, as follows:

3. Another boy sat by her side
And held her hand in his,
And said, "Oh, dear, how glad I'll be
When you and I are wed."

D.
"The Shreveport Girl." Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi; she obtained it from "Jessie Smith, Magee, Mississippi, who learned it in Simpson County, about twenty years ago, from Mrs. 'Doshia Berry; Mrs. Berry was born and 'raised' in Simpson County." The only differences between this text and the A and B texts are that the condemned man "fell in love with a Shreveport. girl" and is about to be hanged in the Shreveport jail.

21. THE SILVER DAGGER

A.
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi, who states that though this must be the title of the ballad, it has no local title. See Cox, No. 109.

1. Come, young men, pray lend attention
To these few lines I'm about to write,
For it is as true as ever was mentioned
Concerning a fair one beauty bright.

2. A young man courted her to be his darling;
He loved her as he loved his life,
And oftentimes he vowed to her
He'd make her his lawful wife.

3. When his parents came to know this,
They strove to part them night and day,
To part him from his own dear jewel.
"She is poor," they would often say.

4. When this fair lady came to know this
She quick resolved what she would do:
She wandered far and left the city,
The pleasant grove no more to view.

5. She wandered down by the flowing rivers;
There for death she did prepare,
Saying, "Here I'll lay my youthful mourning,
For I am sunk in deep despair."

6. He, being near her in a thicket,
Thought he heard his true love's voice.
He ran, he ran like one distracted,
Saying, O my dear, I fear you're lost."

7. He then picked up the bleeding body,
Rolled it over in his arms:
"Is there no friend nor gold can save you?
Must you die with all your charms?"

8. Her coal-black eyes like stars she opened,
Saying, "O my dear, you've come too late!
Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion,
Where all our joys will conquer fate."

9. He then pulled out the silver dagger,
Pierced it through his own dear heart,
Saying, "Let this be an awful warning
To all that does true lovers part!"

B.
No local title. Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, who obtained it from his sister, Mrs. Aubrey L. Hellums, Tishomingo, Mississippi.

1. Boys and girls, pray lend attention
To these few lines I'm going to say,
For they're as true as e'er was spoken,
By a lady young and gay.

2. She was courted by a noble young Frenchman,
In whom she took delight;
He oft times did reprove and tell her
That he'd make her his lovely bride.

3. When his old parents came to know this,
To break it up they both did strive,
Saying, "Oh, son, don't be so foolish,
For she's too poor!" they often cried.

4. When this young lady came to know this
She roamed the fields and meadows wide,
And for her death she had prepared
A golden dagger by her side.

5. When this young lady came to know this
She roamed the fields and meadows round
Until she came to the broad, broad ocean,
A pleasant place where she sat down.

6. She drew out the dealy weapon,
And pierced it through her snow-white breast,
And then began to reel and stagger:
"Farewell, vain world, I'm going to rest!"

7. Her true love, being on the ocean,
Perchance he heard her dying moans,
And there he went like one destructed:
"I'm ruined, I'm lost, I'm left alone!"

8. He picked up the dying body
And rolled it over in his arms,
Saying, "Is there a doctor that can cure you,
Or must you die in a true-love's arms?"

9. She turned her eyes up toward him,
Saying, "True love, true you are too late;
Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion,
Where all our joys will be complete."

10. He picked up the bloody weapon
And pierced it through his tender heart,
Saying, "I hope this will be a sad, sad warning
To those who keep true-loves apart."

C.
No title. Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, whose account of how she came into possession of the text of this ballad and several others is given under "The Silk Merchant's Daughter."

1. Young men and maidens, pray lend attention
To these few lines I'm going to write.
A comely youth whom I can mention
Has lately 'cured a beauty bright.

2. No sooner did his father become for to know it,
He strove, he strove, both day and night,
To part him and his dearest girl;
He often said, "Oh, son, she is poor."

3. He fell upon his knees a-crying,
Saying, "Father, father, pity me;
Do not let this my true love be denied.
For what is this world without her to me?"

4. She walked out by a clear riverside
And set down by a green shady tree
And sighs and said, "Oh, shall I ever,
Evermore my true love see ?"

5. She pulled out a silver dagger,
She pierced it through her young breast.
These words she said as she fell a-stagger,
"Adieu, my love, I am going to rest."

6. He, being lone down in the city,
He thought he heard her feeble voice;
He ran, he ran, like one distracted,
Saying, "Oh, my love, I am lost!"

7. Then two black eyes like stars did open,
Saying, "Oh, my love,-you have come too late;
Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion,
Where all our joys will be complete."

8. He picked up the bloody weapon,
He pierced it through his poor tender heart.
Now let this be a dreadful warning
To all who do true lovers part.

22. LITTLE MOHEA
A.
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff. The MS. was given him by Mr. F. J. Welch, of Tishomingo, Mississippi.
For variants and references see Journal, XXXV, 408; Cox, No. 116.

1. As I went out walking for pleasure one day,
In sweet recreation to wear time away -
As I sat amusing myself on the grass,
Oh, who could I spy but a fair Indian lass!

2. She took her seat by me and took my hand;
Says, "You are a stranger and in a strange land,
But if you'll follow you're welcome to come
And dwell in my cottage which I call my home."

3. The sun had passed shining across the deep sea
As I wandered along with my pretty Mohea.
Together we wandered, together did rove,
Till we came to the cottage in the cocoanut grove.

4. This kind of expression she made unto me:
"If you will consent, sir, to stay here with me,
And go no more roving across the deep sea,
I'll teach you the language of the pretty Mohea."

5. "Oh, no, my dear maiden; that never could be,
For I have a true love in my own country;
And I'll not forsake her, for I know she loves me.
Her heart is as true as the pretty Mohea."

6. It was early one morning, one morning in May,
This kind of expression I made unto her:
"I'm going to leave you, for my boat is now here.
The ship's sails are spreading, and homeward I must steer.

7. The last time I saw her she was standing on the strand,
And as my boat passed her she waved me her hand.
Says, "When you have landed, with the girl that you love,
Think of the little Mohea and the cocoanut grove."

8. And when I had landed on my own native shore,
With friends and relations around me once more,
I looked all around me, but none could I see
Who was fit to compare with the pretty Mohea.

9. The girl I had trusted proved untrue to me.
I'll turn my course backward; from this land I'll flee.
I'll turn my course backward; from this land I'll flee.
I'll go spend my last days with my pretty Mohea.

B.
"Cocoanut Grove." From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi. Mrs. Easley states that she never heard any other title than "Cocoanut Grove," and that the ballad was very popular in her youth.

1. As I was rambling some pleasures to see,
By chance I landed on Ollie Mohee;
And as I sat all in a shade,
No one came near me but an Indian maid.

2. She sat down beside me, requesting my hand,
Saying, "You're a stranger and not of my land,
And if you'll follow me you're welcome
To go sit beside me in the cocoanut grove."

3. The sun was fast sinking beneath the blue sea,
And I would follow my bonny Mohee.
Together we rambled, together we roamed
Till we came to a cottage in a cocoanut grove.

4. Says I: "My darling, this never can be.
I have a true lover in my own country,
And she is as true as ever can be,
And I won't forsake her for any Mohee."

5. The last time I saw her she was standing on land.
As the ship sailed around her she waved me her hand,
Saying, "When you get home to the one that you love,
Just tell her of the Mohee in the cocoanut grove".

6. And now I am safe landed on my own native shore
With friends and companions around me once more,
No one that I see is fit to compare
With the little Mohee with raven-black hair.

7. Oh, yes, I'm at home as safe as a dove,
Surrounded by friends and the girl that I love.
But of all those fair faces not one do I see,
Not one to compare with the little Mohee.

23. THE ROVING GAMBLER.
Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, who obtained it from Mrs. Charles Myers, nee Childre, Smith County, Mississippi. For a full account of the recovery of this text, see "The Silk-Merchant's Daughter." See Delaney's Song Book No. 23, p. 26.

1. I am a roving gambler.
I rove from town to town;
Wherever I get a little light bet,
So willingly do I set down.

2. I roved all down to Dallas,
All down to Dallas town,
And there I got a little light bet;
So willingly I did set down.

3. I had not been in Dallas
Not many more weeks than three,
I fell in love with a pretty little girl,
And she in love with me.

4. She invited me in her parlor,
To cool me with her fan;
She whispered low in her mother's ear,
"I love this gambling man."

5. "Oh, daughter, oh, dear daughter,
How can you serve me so,
And go away and leave me,
With a man you do not know?"

6. "Oh, mother, I love you dearly,
You know I love you well;
But the love I bear for the gambling man
Is more than tongue can tell.

7. "His pockets are lined with silver,
With a long cane in his hand.
I am bound to take a journey
With that roving gambling man."

24. JACK DONAHOO
Communicated by Mr. A. H. Burnett, a student in the University of Mississippi. He obtained it from the singing of Mr. G. P. Strider, aged 55, an Englishman by birth, who works as a lumberjack on Island 66 in the Mississippi River, but who does business in Rena Lara, Mississippi. Considerable variation, in the direction of-a more condensed treatment, from Mackenzie, p. 66; closer to Pound, No. 71. See O'Conor, Irish Com'-all-ye's, p. 22; Partridge's New National Songster, I, 37; Johnny Roach's New Variety Songster, pp. 53-54; Sadie McGill's "O'Donnell Aboo" Songster, p. 4; Wehman's Irish Song Book, No. 4, p. I2; Wehman Bros.' Pocket-Size Irish Song Book No. I, p. 6; Lomax, Cowboy Songs, pp. 64-65; Wehman broadside, No. 751.

1. Come all you bold, undaunted men,
You outlaws of the day.
Beware of the ball and chain,
And also slavery.

2. Attention pay to what I say,
And verily if you do
I will relate the actual fate
Of bold Jack Donahoo.

3. Bold Jack had scarcely landed
Upon Australia's shore
Than he became a highwayman,
As he had been before.

4. Jack Donahoo, who was so brave,
Rode out that afternoon,
Not knowing that the pain of death
Would overtake him soon.

5. And quickly then the horse police
From Sydney came to view.
"Begone from here, you cowards!"
Said bold Jack Donahoo.

6. "To surrender to such cowardly dogs
Is more than I will do.
This day I'll fight if I lose my life,"
Said bold Jack Donahoo.

7. The captain and the sergeant
And the men they did divide;
They fired from behind him,
And also from each side.

8. Six policemen he shot down
Before the fatal ball
Pierced the breast of Donahoo
And caused bold Jack to fall.

9. And when he fell he closed his eyes
And bid the world adieu.
Come all you boys and sing the song
Of bold Jack Donahoo.

25. SHOOTING OF HIS DEAR
"Johnnie Randle." Communicated by Miss Annie Laurie Roberts, Poplarville, Mississippi, who obtained it from Jesse Harvey, a pupil in the Pearl River County Agricultural High School, in MS. written from
meftory. [1 See Cox, No. 102, "Mollie Vaughan"; Rosa S. Allen, Family Songs, p. 5.] [1 I have divided young Harvey's couplets and have added punctuation.]

1. Johnnie Randle was rambling
Between sunset and dark,
He shot his own true love
And wounded her heart.

2. It being late
And the showers coming on,
She had crawled under a thorn bush
The showers to shun.

3. With her apron pinned around her,
He took her for a swan,
But ah-oo-o-o-oo,
It was poor Polly Van.

4. Then he ran up toward home
With his gun in his hand,
Saying, "Father, dear father,
I have killed Polly Van.

5. "And in my own country
No longer can stay.
For killing Polly Van
I must run away."

6. Out came his old father
With his head almost gray,
Saying, "Johnnie, son Johnnie,
Don't you run away.

7. "Stay in your own country
Till the trial comes on.
For killing Polly Van
You never shall be hung."

8. Just the night before the trial
To her uncle she appeared,
Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle,
Johnnie Randle is clear.

9. "With my apron pinned around me,
He took me for a swan,
But oh-o-o-o-o,
It was poor Polly Van."

26. YE SONS OF COLUMBIA
"Fuller and Warren". Communicated by Mr. A. H. Burnett, a student in the University of Mississippi; from the singing of "Dutch" Kistenmacker, Rena Lara, Mississippi, a lumberjack on Island 66 in the Mississippi River.
Cf. Cox, No. 45; Pound, No. 93; Finger, Sailor Chanties and Cowboy Songs, pp. 36-37.

I. You sons of Columbia, your attention I crave,
While a sorrowful story I will tell
Which happened of late in Indiana state,
And a hero not many could excel.

2. Like Samson he courted, made choice of the fair,
And intended to make her his wife;
But she, like Delilah, his heart did ensnare,
Which cost him his honor and his life.

3. A gold ring he gave her in token of his love;
On the face was the image of a dove.
They mutually agreed to get married with speed,
And were pledged by the powers above.

4. But the fickle-minded maiden she vowed again to wed
To young Warren, who was living in that place;
It was a fatal blow that caused his overthrow,
And added to her shame and disgrace.

5. When Fuller came to hear he was deprived of his dear,
Whom he had vowed by the powers to wed,
With his heart full of woe to Warren he did go,
And smilingly to him he said,

6. "Young man, you have wronged me to gratify your cause
By reporting that I left a prudent wife.
Acknowledge that you've wronged me, or, although I break the laws,
Young Warren, I'll deprive you of your life."

7. Young Warren replied, "Your request must be denied,
For your darling to my heart is bound;
And further, I will say that this is our wedding day,
In spite of all the heroes in the town."

8. Then Fuller, in the passion of his anger torn
(Alas, it caused many eyes to cry)
At one fatal shot killed Warren on the spot,
And smilingly said, "I'm ready to die."

9. The time was drawing nigh when Fuller had to die;
He bid the audience adieu.
Like an angel he did stand, for he was a handsome man;
On his breast he had a ribbon of blue.

10. Ten thousand spectators smote themselves upon the breast,
And the guards dropped tears from the eye,
Saying, "Cursed be she who caused the misery!
Would to God in his stead I might die."

11. The gentle God of Love looked in anger from above,
And the ropes flew asunder like the sand.
Two doctors for the pay murdered him that day;
They hung him by main strength of the hand.

12. But the corpse was cut down, and the grace took its prey.
Oh, that harlot was bribed, I do believe.
Bad women certainly are the downfall of men.
As Adam was beguiled by Eve.

27. THE DYING CALIFORNIAN [1]
Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, who obtained it from Mrs. Belle Holt Hubbard, Terry, Mississippi. For note on Mrs. Hubbard see "Sir Hugh". See Cox, No. 49; Pound, No. 90.

1. Lay up nearer, brother, nearer,
For my limbs are growing cold,
And thy presence seemeth nearer,
When thine arms around me fold.

2. I am dying, brother, dying,
Soon you'll miss me in your berth,
For my form will soon be lying
'Neath the ocean's briny surf.

3. I am going, surely going,
But my hope in God is strong;
I am willing, brother, knowing
That He doeth nothing wrong.

4. Tell my father when you greet him,
That in death I prayed for him,
Prayed that I might only meet him
In a world that's free from sin

5. Tell my mother - God assist her,
Know that she is growing old -
That her child would glad have kissed her
When his lips grew pale and cold.

1 This poem was first published in the New England Diadem and Rhode Island Temperance Pledge, Providence, Saturday, February 9, I850 (Vol. V. No. 6), under the title "Lines Suggested on hearing read an extract of a
letter from Capt. Chase, containing the dying words of Brown Owen, who recently died on his passage to California." It is there marked "For the New England Diadem." It was republished "by particular request" in the
same periodical on March 2, I850 (Vol. V, No. 9). - G. L. K.

6. Listen, brother, catch each whisper,
'Tis my wife I'll speak of now;
Tell, oh, tell her how I missed her,
When the fever burned my brow.

7. Tell her she must kiss my children,
Like the kiss I last impressed,
Hold them as when last I held them.
Folded closely to my breast.

8. Give them early to their Maker,
Putting all her trust in God,
And He never will forsake her,
For He's said so in His word.

9. Oh, my children, Heaven bless them!
They were all my life to me;
Would I could once more caress them,
Before I sink beneath the sea.

10. 'Twas for them I crossed the ocean,
What my hopes were I'd not tell,
But they gained an orphan's portion -
Yet He doeth all things well.

11. Listen, brother, closely listen
Don't forget a single word,
That in death my eyes did glisten
With the tears her memory stored.

12. Tell them I never reached the haven,
Where I sought the precious dust
But have gained a port called Heaven
Where the gold will never rust.

13. Tell my sisters, I remember
Every kind and parting word,
And my heart has been kept tender
By the thoughts its memory stirred.

14. Urge them to secure an entrance,
For they'll find a brother there;
Faith in Jesus and repentance
Will secure for them a share.

15. Hark! I hear my Savior speaking,
'Tis - I know his voice so well;
When I am gone, O don't be weeping;
Brother, hear my last farewell!

28. YOUTH'S COMPANIONS
A.
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi. The first of two temperance ballads. The second follows. I preserve the dialectal "borned" and the spelling "Chicargo," which corresponds to local dialectal pronunciation. This song shows some resemblance to "The Sheffield Apprentice" (Cox, No. 53).

I. Come all you youth's companions
And listen a while to me.
I'll tell you all a story
Of some bad company.

2. I was borned in Pennsylvania,
Among those beautiful hills.
The memory of my childhood
Is burned within me still.

3. I did not like my fireside,
I did not like my home;
I had a view of rambling
So far away from home.

4. I bid adieu to loved ones,
My home I bid farewell.
I landed in Chicargo,
A deathly bed of hell.

5. 'Twas there I took to drinking;
I sinned both night and day;
And out of my feeble bosom
A feeble voice would say -

6. My mother's voice kept praying:
"O God, protect my boy
And go with him and keep him
Throughout his manhood joy."

7. I courted a fair young maiden.
Her name I will not tell,
For it would only disgrace her,
Since I've been doomed for hell.

8. It was on one moonlight evening,
The stars were shining bright;
I threw a fatal dagger,
Most blighted out her light.

9. That's why I'm on the scaffold.
My moments are not long.
You may forget the singer,
But don't forget the song.

B.
Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi; who formerly lived in Calhoun County. Varies from A in the possession of an additional stanza after the third -

4. My mother used to tell me,
And now it's come to pass,
Bad company and gambling
Would ruin her boy at last;

in the omission of the thicago episode; and in the compression of the remainder of the action into two additional stanzas, instead of the six stanzas in the corresponding part of the A version:

5. I loved a fair young maiden,
I courted her day and night
Till with a fatal dagger
I set her spirit flight.

6. And now I'm on the scaffold,
My moments are not long.
You may forget the singer,
But don't forget the song.

29. POOR OMIE
"Little Ommie Wise." Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School, who obtained it from one of his pupils. Pound, in the note on No. 51, quotes an interesting statement about this ballad by Professor Belden. See also Campbell and Sharp, No. 70; Belden, A Partial List, No. 17; Shearin and Combs, p. 28; Journal, XX, 265-267; XXV, II.

I. I'll tell you the story of little Ommie Wise,
How she was deluded by John Lewis's lies.

2. He told her to meet him down at the Island Springs;
He'd bring her some money and other fine things.

3. She went there, she waited; at last he did come,
But he brought her no money or other fine things.

4. "Just leap up behind me, and away we will ride
Till we come to some cottage; there I'll make you my bride."

5. She leaped up behind him, and away they did ride,
Till they came to the river where the waters grew wide.

6. "John Lewis, John Lewis, please tell me your mind!"
"My mind is to drown you and leave you behind."

7. "Have pity, have pity, and spare me my life!
I'd rather go begging or either be your wife."

8. "I'll have no pity, nor I'll not spare your life;
You'll never go begging nor ever be my wife."

9. He picked up little Ommie and turned around and around,
He threw little Ommie in the river where she would drown.

10. There was a little boy a-fishing, 'twas on one Tuesday morn;
He saw little Ommie's body come floating to the shore.

11. He threw his net around her and drew her to the shore,
Says, "Little Ommie's body is to look for no more."

12. They sent for John Lewis to come to the place;
They propped up little Ommie so John could view her face.

13. "My name is John Lewis, I'll never reach the skies;
I murdered my true lover; her name was Ommie Wise."

14. They shrouded little Ommie and started for her grave;
They handcuffed John Lewis and sent him to jail.

30. THE PRISONER AT THE BAR
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, a student in the University of Mississippi; from his sister, Mrs. Audrey Hellums, Tishomingo, Mississippi, who sings it.

1. The judge was there, the jury too, and people from afar;
A fair young man in tender youth was prisoner at the bar.
The great court-room was crowded with an eager, anxious throng,
And many hearts were aching for the boy accused of wrong.

2. A maiden fair with golden hair swept swiftly through the crowd;
The people gazed in wonder, spoke not a word aloud.
Then stepping to the jury stand one moment she did pause;
Then smiling through her tears she said, "Judge, let me plead the cause.

3. "Oh, judge, your mind must wander back to those long years gone by
And see your sweetheart and yourself just like this lad and I.
Unless you wish to blight our life, don't say that we must part;
Remember, judge, your loving wife was once your dear sweetheart."

4. Then stepping to the jury stand to make her simple plea:
"This prisoner, sirs, is innocent; I know you'll set him free.
Remember you were once a boy, just like this fair young lad;
If you convict him of this charge, you'll send him to the bad.

5. "Next Sunday is our wedding day - a dream of wondrous life -
When he will at the altar make me his dear loving wife.
If you have children of your own, have mercy, Lord, I pray.
Remember, judge, you'll break my heart if you send him away."

6. The judge rose calmly from his seat; the court was still as death;
The tears were trickling down his cheeks, he spoke with faltering breath:
"I have a little girl at home with just such baby eyes,
And seeds of mercy scattered round us flourish in the skies."

7. The jury did not leave the box, for they were quickly agreed.
The foreman briefly signed a note and gave it to the clerk to read.
"Not guilty!" were the only words the maiden heard him say.
Her lover clasped her in his arms: Love always has its way.

31. TWO CONVICTS
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School, who obtained it from one of his pupils.

1. Two convicts sitting in a prison cell
The story of their past life to each other tell.
"I had a home, boys," said the elder of the two,
"A wife that I loved dearly, and a little baby too.

2. "We were living happy until the tempter came;
I'll tell you all the truth, boys, I was not to blame.
It was on one day that I missed her, and with him she had fled;
Oh, how I suffered; I wished that I was dead!

3. "Then I went to drinking - what else could I do?
I mixed with bad companions, became a burglar too.
Then I went to robbing, to rob a mansion grand;
The tools were in my pocket, revolver in my hand.

4. "I crawled in at the window, and all was still as death;
I fired - a flash; I saw her face: Oh, God, I'd shot my child!
I was taken across to the courthouse and sentenced for twenty-five years;
And just across the court-room sat my wife in tears.

5. "There by her side sat one I loved so dear;
I thanked the Lord with all my heart my baby had not died.
Just across the court-room sat the man that wrecked my home,
Sitting in a shadow, smiling there alone.

6. "Then I sprang toward him with murder in my heart;
My hands were clasped upon his throat when we were torn apart.
I have no friends in all this world, boys, no place to call my home;
I have no place to shelter me - none but a prison cell."

32. ANNIE GIRL
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, who says that it was one of the most popular songs in her girlhood in Calhoun County. This is a compound of three songs, "The Drowsy Sleeper," "The Spanish Lady" ("No, Sir, No"), and "The Sailor's Return" ("The Broken Token"). For references see Cox, Nos. io8, 158, 92. For stanza 5 cf. "Little Sparrow" (Cox, No. 140, stanza I).

1. "Annie girl, Annie girl, go ask your mother
If you can be my bride to-day.
If she says yes, come quick and tell me;
If she says no, we'll run away."

2. "My mamma says that she's not willing,
My papa says 'twill never do
For me to leave a world of pleasure
And run away with a man like you."

3. "Annie girl, Annie girl, I've gold and silver,
Annie girl, Annie girl, I've house and land,
Annie girl, Annie girl, I've a world of pleasure
That you can have at your command."

4. "It's what do I care for your gold and silver,
It's what do I care for your house and land,
What do I care for your world of pleasure,
When all I want is a handsome man?"

5. "Annie girl, Annie girl, don't marry for beauty,
For beauty is a deceiving [fay].
Beauty is the stars on a summer morning,
When the stars all fade away."

6. "I have a true lover out on the ocean,
For seven long year he's on the sea.
If he lives single for seven year longer,
Not a man on earth shall marry me."

7. "Perhaps your true love he is drowned,
Perhaps he's on some battlefield slain,
Perhaps he's to some pretty girl married,
And his face you'll never see again."

8. "If he is drowned, I hope he is happy,
Or if he is slain in battle [grim];
And if he to some pretty girl is married,
I'll love the girl that married him."

33. MY DEAREST DEAR
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi. The first four lines resemble No. 77 with the same title, in the Campbell and Sharp collection. For stanzas 3,4, see Campbell and Sharp, No. 61, A 2, C 5; Cox, No. 137.

1. My dearest dear, the time draws near
That you and I must part.
There's no one knows the inward grief
Of my poor troubled heart.

2. The birds do sing, the meadows ring;
The day of parting nears.
That day I part with you I know
I'll shed a thousand tears.

3. The blackest crow that ever flew
Will surely turn to white,
If ever I prove false to you.
Bright day will turn to night.

4. Bright day will turn to night;
The roaring sea will burn.
If ever I prove false to you,
The elements will mourn.

5. I've one request to make of you,
If I should be so bold:
Have you a place within your breast
My secrets to enfold?

6. Yes, I've a place within my breast
Which time can never move.
It plainly shows to this wide .world
You are the one I love.

7. Come, gentlemen, and ladies too,
Hear what I have to say:
Of all the boys I ever knew,
I'd rather marry you.

8. My true love has forsaken me;
So I'll sit down and moan.
And if she never returns again,
I'll spend my life alone.

34. THE GREEN LAURELS
"Red, White, and Blue." Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi, who obtained it from Mrs. Otis Johnson, Water Valley, Mississippi. For an account of the song, see Cox, No. 139, whose B version the following text resembles.

I. I once had a sweetheart, but now I have none;
He's gone and left me, heartbroken, alone.
But since he has left me, contented I'll be,
For he loves another girl better than me.

CHORUS: Red roses, sweet laurel, white violets grow blue,
I've always been sorry that I parted from you,
But I hope our next meeting our love will prove true
And change sweet laurel to red, white, and blue.

2. He wrote me a letter in red, rosy lines;
The answer I gave him was twisted and twined.
"You keep your love letters and I will keep mine,
Be as kind to your sweetheart as I am to mine."

3. He passes my window both early and late.
The looks that he gives me my heart it would break,
For the looks that he gave me ten thousand could see
That.he loves another girl better than me.

35. BLUE EYES.
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, a student in the University of Mississippi; from his sister, Mrs. Audrey L. Hellums, Tishomingo, Mississippi, who sings it. The first stanza belongs to "The Wagoner's Lad" (Campbell and Sharp, No. 64).

I. I'm a a fair damsel, my fortune is sad,
I've lately been courted by a handsome young lad;
I've been courted so truly by night and by day,
But now he has left me and gone away.

2. Some say that he loved me, I know it was true;
But to go with him I never could do.
I'll do by him as he's done by me -
I'll have a new lover, and this you will see.

3. Some say that I'm guilty, some say I've done wrong,
Some say that I'm guilty, some say I've done wrong;
But as sure as the Lord lives above,
I'm guilty of nothing but innocent love.

4. A bow of blue ribbon for him I will wear,
A bunch of red roses for him I'll prepare,
And if he'll ieturn I'll crown him with joy
And kiss the sweet lips of my blue-eyed boy.

5. Ships sail on the ocean that sail without sails,
The smallest of fishes may grow to be whales,
The sea may run dry; but there'll be no more joy,
For the days have now passed with my blue-eyed boy.

36. THE TRUE LOVER'S FAREWELL
No local title. Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi, who formerly resided in Calhoun County, where she learned the song. For a discussion of this song, see Cox, No. 137.

1. Fare you well, my own true love,
So fare you well for a while;
I'm going away, but I'll come again
If I go ten thousand mile.

2. Ten thousand mile, my own true love,
Through England, France, and Spain;
My roving mind shall never rest
Till I see your face again.

3. Oh, don't you see that pretty little dove
That flies from vine to vine,
A-mourning for his own true love,
Just as I will for mine?

4. If I prove false to you, my love,
The rocks will melt in the sun,
The fire will freeze like the water from the well,
And the roaring sea will burn.

37. JIMMY
Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, from the source mentioned in the note on "The Wife Wrapped in Wether's Skin," "The Three Babes," and other ballads in this collection. See Cox, No. 143 ("A Forsaken Lover").

I. A walking, a talking, a walking goes I,
To meet pretty Jimmy, he'll be here by-and-by;
To meet him in the meadow, 'tis all my delight,
And sit and talk with him from morning till night.

2. Meeting is a pleasure, and parting is a grief.
An inconstant lover is worse than a thief;
A thief can but rob you and take what you have,
But an inconstant lover can bring you to your grave.

3. Your grave can consume you and bring you to dust.
There's not one in twenty that a maiden can trust.
They'll kiss them and court them, poor girls to deceive,
There's not one in twenty that a poor girl can believe.

4. Cuckoo is a pretty bird; she sings and she flies;
She brings us glad tidings, and tells us no lies;
She sucks the sweetest flowers to make her voice clear,
And the more she sings "Cuckoo" sweet summer draws near.

5. Come all you fair maidens, take warning of me,
Don't place your affections on a sycamore tree,
For the top it will wither, and the roots they will die,
And if I'm forsaken, I know not for why.

6. If I am forsaken, I am not forsworn,
And he is mistaken who thinks I will mourn.
I'll dress myself all in the finest I see
And sit by my Jimmy as he sits by me.

38. I ONCE HAD A SWEETHEART
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School: from a pupil.

I. I once had a sweetheart,
A sweetheart brave and true;
His hair was black and curly,
His darling eyes were blue.

2. He told me that he loved me,
And he proved it to be so;
He often came to see me
When the sun was sinking low.

3. He pulled off his diamond ring
And placed it on my hand;
And he said, "Dear girl, remember me
When I'm in some far-off land."

4. He promised that he'd write to me,
And he kept his promise true;
The very first words I heard from him,
"I'll soon be home to you."

5. The war is almost over,
The time is just ahead.
The very next words I heard from him
My true love, he was dead!

6. I'll always keep his diamond ring,
I'll keep his letters, too;
I'll live and die a single girl
For the boy that died so true.*

[* "wore the blue" is a variant]

39. THE MILKMAID
A.
Communicated by Miss Mabel Mooney, Oxford, Mississippi, from the singing of her mother, Mrs. M. L. Mooney, who formerly resided in Calhoun County. For notes on this song, see Cox, No. 125.

1. "Where are you going, my kind pretty maid?" I said.
"Oh, where are you going, my kind pretty maid ?"
"Going a-milking, kind sir," she answered him.
"I'm going a-milking, kind sir," she said.

2. "May I go along, my kind pretty maid ?" I said.
"May I go along, my kind pretty maid ?"
"Just as you please, sir, kind sir," she answered him.
"Just as you please, sir, kind sir," she said.

3. "Oh, what is your father, my kind pretty maid ?" I said.
"Oh, what is your father, my kind pretty maid ?"
"My father is a farmer, kind sir," she answered him.
"My father is a farmer, kind sir," she said.

4. "Oh, what is your mother, my kind pretty maid ?" I said.
"Oh, what is your mother, my kind pretty maid ?"
"A wife to my father, kind sir," she answered him.
"A wife to my father, kind sir," she said.

5. "Oh, what is your fortune, my kind pretty maid ?" I said.
"Oh, what is your fortune, my kind pretty maid ?"
"My face is my fortune, kind sir," she answered him.
"My face is my fortune, kind sir," she said.

6. "Oh, I can't marry you, my kind pretty maid," I said.
"Oh, I can't marry you, my kind pretty maid."
"No one has asked you to, kind sir," she answered him.
"No one has asked you to, kind sir, " she said.

B.
Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, who learned it from her mother, Mrs. Nettie Carney Jones, a former resident of Copiah County. Contains four stanzas - the equivalents of 1, 2, 5, and 6, above.

40. BILLY BOY
A.
Written down from memory by Mrs. W. L. Kennon, University, Mississippi, whose mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Walthall Sykes, used to sing it to her. Mrs. Sykes learned it while she was a girl on a plantation near West Point, Mississippi, in Clay County, which borders the Calhoun ballad region on the southeast. Mrs. Sykes states that she has never seen the song in print. For references see Cox, No. i68. Add Wyman and Brockway, Lonesome Songs, I, 14-17.

1. "O where are you going, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
O where are you going, charming Billy ?"
"O I'm going to see my wife,
She's the joy of my life;
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother!"

2. "Can she bake an apple pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Can she bake an apple pie, charming Billy?"
"She can bake an apple pie
As quick as a cat can wink its eye;
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother!"

3. "How old is she, Billy Boy, Billy Boy ?
How old is she, charming Billy?"
"Three times six, three times seven,
Twenty-eight and eleven;
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother!"

B.
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, who obtained it from his sister, Miss Alice Bickerstaff, Tishomingo, Miss.

1. (As in A).

2. "Did she bid you come in ?".........
"Yes, she bade me come in.
There's a dimple in her chin," etc.

3. "Did she set for you a chair ?".......
"Yes, she set for me a chair.
She has ringlets in her hair," etc.

4. (As in A, except that she can "bake a cherry pie.")

5. "How tall is she ?" ..........
"She's as tall as any pine,
And as slim as a pumpkin vine," etc.

6. "How old is she ?"..........
"She's six times seven,
Twenty-eight and eleven," etc.

C.
Communicated by Miss Elizabeth Burdette, a student in the University of Mississippi.

2. (Substantially the same as in B.)

3. "Can she make a cherry pie," etc.

4. "Is she very tall, Billy Boy ......... ?"
"Yes, she is very tall, and she has no hair at all," etc.

5. "How tall is she, Billy Boy,.......... ?"
"She's as tall as any pine, and as straight as a pumpkin vine," etc.

6. "How old is she, Billy Boy, ............?"
"Twice six, twice seven, three times forty and eleven, ........" etc.

7. "What is her name, Billy Boy .......... ?"
"Snap Peter, Snap Pooter, Firelander, Goshooter,
She's a young thing, and can't leave her mother."

D.
Communicated by Mr. M. G. Campbell, Kosciusko, Mississippi, aged about sixty, who says that he learned it from his mother.

1. "Have you a girl, Billie Boy, Billie Boy,
Have you a girl, charming Billie ?"
"Yes, I have a girl with many a curl,
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother."

2. "How old," etc., as in the other versions.

3. "How tall," etc., as in the other versions.

4. "Can she make a cherry pie," etc., as in the other versions.

5. "Can she make a feather bed, Billie Boy, Billie Boy?
Can she make a feather bed, charming Billie?"
"She can make a feather bed with pillows for the head,
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother."

41. FALSE NOW
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi.

1. I have a loveling sweetheart;
She said she would be mine.
I'll treat you like a lady
As long as I've a dime.

2. The storms will rule the ocean,
The heavens will cease to be,
This world will lose its nations
When I prove false to thee.

3. I have a large ship on the ocean;
It's lined with silver and gold.
Before my darling should suffer
I'd have it anchored and sold.

4. I asked your papa for you,
And this is what he said:
"I cannot do without her;
She has to bake my bread."

5. I asked your mamma for you;
She said you were too young.
I wish I'd never seen you;
I wish I'd never been born.

6. Some say in love there's pleasure.
What pleasure do I see
When the one I loved so dearly
Has turned her back on me ?

7. You can ramble this wide world over,
You can ramble the deep blue sea,
You can ramble this wide world over,
You will find no boy like me.

42. ROLLY TRUDAM
Commumcated by Miss Mabel Mooney, Oxford, Mississippi, from the singing of her mother, Mrs. M. L. Mooney, who formerly resided in Calhoun County.

1. As I went out one morning to take the morning air.
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day)
As I went out one morning to take the morning air,
I met an old lady talking to her daughter fair.
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)

2. "Hush your foolish talking and stop your rattling tongue.
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day)
Hush your foolish talking and stop your rattling tongue.
You talk about your marrying; you know you are too young.
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)

3. "If I were willing, oh, who would be your man?
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)
If I were willing, oh, who would be your man ?"
"Land sakes, mamma, I'd get my handsome Sam.
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)

4. "Doctors and lawyers and men behind the plow:
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)
Doctors and lawyers and men behind the plow:
They all want to marry me and want to marry now."
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)

5. "Now my daughter's married and pretty well-to-do,
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)
Now my daughter is married and pretty well-to-do,
Lord sakes, daughter, I believe I'll marry too."
(Rolly Trudam, Trudam, Trudam, Rolly Day.)

43. THE HOLLY TWIG
"A Bachelor Bold and Young." Communicated by Miss Mabel Mooney, Oxford, Mississippi, from the singing of her mother, Mrs. M. L. Mooney, who formerly resided in Calhoun County. Compare Campbell and Sharp, No. 43, "The Holly Twig."

1. When I was a bachelor bold and young,
I courted me a girl with a clattering tongue.
She promised she'd marry me; she didn't say when.
The kisses I gave her were a hundred and ten.

Refrain: The kisses I gave her were, etc.

2. Monday morning I married my wife;
I thought to live a happier life.
We sang and danced and so merry did we play,
We sang and danced till the break of day.

Refrain: We sang and danced, etc.

3. Tuesday morning I carried her home;
I thought to my soul I'd have a wife of my own.
She wrinkled up her face and began to scold.
I never was scolded so in my life-time before.

Refrain: I never was scolded, etc.

4. Wednesday morning I went to the wood.
I thought to my soul she wouldn't prove good.
I got me a hickory, one that was green -
I thought it was the keenest I ever had seen.

Refrain: I thought it was the keenest, etc.

5. Thursday morning I whipped her well;
I have no doubt I sent her soul to hell.
But if I have, I shall never repent
The time in whipping her that I have spent.

Refrain: The time in whipping her, etc.

6. Friday morning at break of day
She was lying on her pillow scolding away.
Rufus Grufus, a little devil, came
And carried her away in a shower of rain.

Refrain: And carried her away, etc.

7. Saturday morning, breakfast time,
I had no wife to bother my mind.
So my week's work is now at an end,
And my brandy bottle is my best friend.

Refrain: And my brandy bottle is my best friend.

44. FATHER GRUMBLE
Communicated by Mrs. Emma Sykes Kennon, University, Mississippi, transmitted to her in the manner described in the note to "Billy Boy" and "King William." See Cox, No. 156.

1. There was an old man that lived in the wood,
As you may plainly see.
He said he could do more work in one day
Than his wife could do in three.

2. "Very well," the old woman said;
"If that you will allow,
Tomorrow morn you stay in my stead,
And I'll go drive the plow.

3. "You must milk the tidy cow,
For fear that she'll go dry,
And you must feed the pigs in the sty,
For fear that they will die.

4. "You must watch the speckled hen,
For fear that she'll lay astray,
And you must wind the thread on the broach
That I spun yesterday."

5. The old woman took her staff in her hand
And went to drive the plow;
The old man took his pail in his hand
And went to milk the cow.

6. "Saw, Teeny, and saw, Tiny!
My pretty little cow, stand still!
If ever I milk you again,
It will be against my will!"

7. Teeny hinched and Teeny hunched,
And Teeny cocked up her nose:
"If ever I milk you again,
It will be against my will!"

8. He then went to feed the pigs in the sty
For fear that they would die.
The old sow jumped between his legs
And threw him into the mire.

9. He then went to watch the speckled hen,
For fear she'd lay astray.
He forgot to wind the thread on the broach
That his wife spun yesterday.

Io. He swore by the sun and the moon and the stars
And the green leaves on the trees
If his wife never did a day's work in her life
She ne'er should be ruled by he!

45. LITTLE JOHNNY GREEN
"My Grandmammy." Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi, who obtained it from Mrs. R. C. Jones, Oxford, Mississippi. Mrs, Jones sings it. See Cox, No. 161.

I. My grandmammy lives on yonder green,
As fine an old lady as ever was seen;
But she cautioned me with a wondrous care
Of false-hearted young men to beware.

Chorus: Tomy yi, tomy yum, tum tum tum taw
Of false-hearted young men to beware.

2. First come a-courtin' was little Johnny Green,
As fine a little fellow as ever was seen;
But the words of my grandmammy rang in my head,
And I could not hear one word he said.*

3. The next come a-courtin' was little Tommy Grove,
And there we met with a wondrous love -
With a wondrous love, and I wasn't a bit afraid:
It's better to get married than to die an old maid.

4. Thinks I to myself, "It's all a mistake
To hear what a fuss these old folks make.
If boys and girls had all been afraid,
Grandmammy herself would have been an old maid."

*The chorus begins as after stanza I, but in succeeding stanzas repeats the last line of each stanza.

46. COMMON BILL
A.
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, who wrote it down from memory and stated that he had known it all his life. See Pound, No. 104; Perrow, Journal, XXVIII, 173-174; Tolman, Journal, XXIX, 171; Journal, XXXV, 363-364; Spaulding's Bell Ringers' Songster, pp. 16-17 ("The Maiden's Resolution"); Broadwood and Fuller Maitland, English County Songs, pp. 52-53.

1. I'll tell you of a fellow,
A fellow whom I've seen:
He's neither white nor yellow,
But altogether green.

Refrain: He's altogether green,
He's altogether green;
He's neither white nor yellow,
But altogether green.

2. His name is not so charming;
'Tis only common Bill.
He asked me if'I'd marry him;
But I do not think I will.

Refrain: I do not think I will, etc.

3. He told me of a cottage,
A home among the trees;
And don't you think that blockhead
Tumbled down upon his knees!

Refrain: Tumbled down upon his knees, etc.

4. He wrote to me a letter,
And this is what was in it:
That if I didn't marry him
He'd surely die in a minute.

Refrain: He'd surely die in a minute, etc.

5. Now the Blessed Book informs us
That 'tis a sin to kill,
And since I've thought it over
I reckon I'll marry Bill.

Refrain: I reckon I'll marry Bill,
I reckon I'll marry Bill.
And since I've thought it over
I reckon I'll marry Bill.

B.
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Miss.) Public School, who obtained it from a pupil. No substantial variation from A.

47. THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, a student in the University of Mississippi; from his sister, Mrs. Audrey Hellums, Tishomingo, Mississippi, who sings it. Combs prints a text in Folk-Songs du Midi des Etats-Unis, 1925,
pp. 21o-211, and there is another (from North Carolina) in the Minish MS.

1. I once did have a charming beau;
I loved him dear as life,
I really thought the time would come
When I would be his wife.

2. His pockets they were filled with cash,
And right he cut a dash -
A watch and chain and diamond ring
And a little black mustache.

3. He came to see me Sunday night
And stayed till half past three;
He said he never saw a girl
He loved as well as me.

4. He said we'd live in grandest style,
For he had plenty of cash,
And then he pressed upon my lips
His little black mustache.

5. There came along a sly old maid;
She was worth her weight in gold;
She wore false teeth, she wore false hair,
She was forty-five years old.

6. She fooled around till she caught my beau,
For she had plenty of cash;
So that's the way I lost my beau
With the little black mustache.

7. Now, girls, beware of my sad luck,
And never be too fast;
And, girls, beware of stylish ways
And little black mustache.

8. Well now they live across the way
On yonders mountain side;
She married him for his black mustache,
He married her for her gold.

48. I'LL EAT WHEN I'M HUNGRY
A.
Communicated by the Rev. Mr. Eustace Henderson, Grenada, Mississippi. Mr. Henderson stated that he obtained it from Dr. J. M. Henderson, of Waelder, Texas, who recited it and remarked that he heard a drunken negro singing it, to the tune of "Old Hundred," over seventy years ago, on the street of a small town in North Mississippi. The same stanza is given in the Berea Quarterly, October, 1910; cf. Perrow, Journal, XXVIII, 182. See Cox, No. 146.

I'll eat when I'm hungry;
I'll drink when I'm dry.
If a tree don't fall on me,
I'll live till I die.

B.
Communicated by Professor Calvin S. Brown, University, Mississippi, whose third line reads:

"If the Yankees don't kill me,"

who says that it was a popular Civil War song. See Cox, p. 280.

49. GIVE MY LOVE TO NELL
This version of the once popular song by this name was written down from memory by Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi.

1. Three years ago when Jack and Joe
Set sail across the foam,
Each vowed a fortune he would make
Before returning home.

2. In just one year Jack gained his wealth
And sailed for home that day,
And when the boys shook hands to part
Poor Joe could only say:

Chorus: '"Give my love to Nellie, Jack,
And kiss her once for me.
The fairest girl in all the world,
I'm sure you'll say 'tis she.
Treat her kindly, Jack, old boy,
And tell her I am well."
His parting words were, "Don't forget
To give my love to Nell."

3. In one more year Joe gained his wealth -
Enough to last for life.
Across the foam he sailed for home
To make sweet Nell his wife.

4. But soon he learned that Jack and Nell
One year ago had wed.
Now he regrets and sighs and frets
That he has ever said:

Chorus: "Give my love to Nellie, Jack," etc.

5. When on the street they chanced to meet,
Joe says, "Jack, you selfish elf,
The next girl that I learn to love
I'll kiss her for myself.

6. "But all is fair in love, they say;
So I'll forgive you now.
And when you to your home return,
Just give my love to Nell."

50. TOCOWA
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Mississippi) Public School, who states that he obtained it from one of his pupils and that it is a favorite in Panola County and is probably of local origin. Satirical songs about Arkansas have long been popular favorites in Mississippi, and the experience of the hero may well have occurred to a resident of Panola County. For complete texts, with references, see Cox, No. 52 ("An Arkansas Traveller"); cf. Finger, Sailor Chanties and Cowboy Songs, pp. 52--54.

1. I started for Arkansas one early morn in June.
I landed in Sulphur Springs one Saturday afternoon.
Up stepped a walking skeleton, presenting me his paw,
Inviting me to his hotel, "the best in Tocowa."

2. I rose next morning early, to meet an early train.
He said, "Yo ung man, you'd better stay. I havesome land to drain.
I'll give you a dollar and a half a day, your board and washing all.
You'll find you are a different man when you leave Tocowa."

3. He fed me corn dodgers as hard as any rock,
Until my knees began to shake, my teeth began to knock.
I got so thin on sassafras tea I could hide behind a straw.
Indeed I WAS a different man when I left Tocowa.

51. SNAIL, SNAIL
Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi; obtained from Miss Ila Long, Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi, who took it from the dictation of her aged mother. [This is a fragment of "Shule Aron" (see Journal, XXXV, 402--405, for texts and references), except for the first two lines, which are an old nursery ditty (Halliwell, The Nursery Rhymes of England, 5th ed., No. 502, p. 254; the same, Popular Rhymes and Nursery Songs, 1849, pp. 175-177).' Cf. the French nursery song printed in various forms
by Certeux, Revue des Traditions Populaires, VII, 507-508:

Colimaqon borgne,
Montre-moi tes cornes.
Si tu ne les montres pas,
Je te couperai la gorge
Avec le couteau d'saint Georges. - (G. L. K.)]

I. Snail, snail, come out of your hole
Or else I'll beat you as black as a coal.
Laugh like a doe, like a dill, a mack, a sail,
Still a mack a vallian lando
Shule shule a shule go crule
Shule go shack and a shule go crule
Laugh like a doe, like a dill, a mack, a sail,
Still a mack a vallian lando.

2. I'll go up on yonders hill,
There I'll sit and cry my fill,
That every tear may turn a mill,
Still a mack a vallian lando, etc.

3. I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel,
I'll sell my loom and spinning wheel,
To buy my wife a load of cheese,
Still a mack a vallian lando, etc.

1 See p. gg9b9e low.

52. THE SAILOR AND THE SOLDIER
Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi; obtained from Miss Lia Long, Saltillo, Mississippi, who wrote it down from the dictation of her aged mother.

1. A sailor and a soldier were walking one day.
Said the sailor to the soldier, "Let's kneel down and pray.
Let's pray for the good and the use of all inen,
And whatever I pray for you must say amen.

2. "Let's pray for those old maids who flirt all they can
And seek to be courted by every young man:
Good luck and good fortune may they always attend,
And plenty of lovers." Says the soldier, "Amen."

3. "Let's pray for those young men who live a single life
And have no intention of getting a wife:
Good luck and good fortune may they always attend,
And plenty of sweethearts." Says the soldier, "Amen."

4. "Let's pray for those farmers who hold to the plow
And make their own living by the sweat of their brow:
Good luck and good fortune may they always attend,
And plenty of money." Says the soldier, "Amen."

5. "Let's pray for the homeless, the hungry and cold;
Let's pray for the afflicted, the troubled and old:
Better luck and better fortune may they soon attend,
And die and go to heaven." Says the soldier, "Amen."

6. "Let's pray for those misers with a hat full of gold,
Who won't lend it nor spend it nor give it to the poor.
Bad luck and bad fortune may they always attend,
And die and go to torment." Says the soldier, "Amen."

53. O POLLY DEAR
Conmmunicated by Miss Will Conerly, Fernwood, Mississippi, who writes: "My father used to sing me this song. It was sung to him by old people during slavery times. He says that he has known and heard it ever since he could remember. At the beginning of each stanza the music is very slow and soft, but it moves with increasing loudness and swiftness until it comes to a quick halt at the end ..... .My school children enjoy singing it. They gave it the title 'O Polly Dear.' " This is a fragment of the famous old American ballad of "Springfield Mountain." See Cox, No. 8I.

1. O Polly dear, O Polly dear, O can't you see
Where that venimous snake did bite me ?
Fling dang de
Fling dang de
Fling dang didilum didilum de.

2. O Billy dear, why did you go
Down to the meadow for to mow?
Fling dang de, etc.

3. O Polly dear, I thought you knowed
That hay was ripe and must be mowed.
Fling dang de, etc.

54. FLIRTING
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, a student in the University of Mississippi; from his sister, Mrs. Audrey Hellums, who sings it.

1. They say it is sinful to flirt,
They say my heart's made of stone;
They asked me to speak to him kindly
And leave the poor boy alone.

2. Oh, why do they call him a boy?
I'm sure that he's older than me.
I wish they would leave us alone,
For happy then I would be.

3. I remember one night Willie said
He loved me dearer than life;
He called me his darling, his own,
And asked me to be his wife.

4. "O, Willie, O, Willie, I fear
That I will have to say no!"
I gave him my hand with a smile:
"Good-bye, little sweetheart, you must go."

5. "O, Katie," he said, with a cry,
"Say, is your heart made of stone?"
He took a white rose from my hair
And left me standing alone.

6. Next morning they found Willie dead,
Down in the stream by the mill,
Beneath the sparkling water so bright
That flows by the foot of the hill.

7. His blue eyes forever were closed,
And there was the girl so fair.
She pressed upon his pale lips
The rose that he took from her hair.

8. "O Willie, O Willie, come back,
I will always be faithful and true!
O Willie, my darling, my own,
I will always be faithful and true."

55. WILL RAY
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi, who says that it was also extremely popular when she was a girl.
Like "Annie Girl," a dialogue song which tells a story, but with some attempt at humor. I have been able to find no titles or songs analogous to this, except "The Courtship of Billy Grimes," Pound, No. 96, which
lacks the double turn of the dialogue.

1. "O Papa, dear Papa, please tell me
Just what you think of Will Ray,
And if he should ask for your daughter,
Dear Papa, what would you say?"

2. "O Daughter, dear, how you have shocked me,
To think you are so handsome and gay,
Would offer to step from your level
And marry that pauper, Will Ray."

3. "O Papa, don't speak so cruel;
Your words make me sad.
If I can't marry young Willie,
My life will be lonely and sad."

4. "O Daughter, I've something to tell you -
You mind just what I say:
You know John Burns the banker
Is coming to see you to-day."

5. "O Papa, young Johnnie's so wealthy,
And Willie's so poor as you say;
But Johnnie is coming tomorrow,
And Willie will be here to-day."

6. "But, Daughter, I've something to tell you:
'Tis hard to tame a wild bird.
I said you should marry young Johnnie,
And I will never go back on my word."

7. "But, Papa, I've something to tell you -
To tell you about John Burns:
His money has vanished and left him,
And the wheel of his fortune turns.

8. "And, Papa, I've more to tell you -
It's something about Will Ray:
His uncle has died and left him
A cool hundred thousand, they say."

9. "Now, Daughter, I've something to tell you -
You mind just what I say:
Don't bother with Johnnie no longer,
But marry your handsome Will Ray."

10. "But, Papa, young Johnnie's so lonesome;
He feels his loss very bad.
His parents both died and left him,
And that's what makes him so sad."

11. "No matter, my daughter, I tell you,
I want you to marry Will Ray,
And shine in your satin and laces
And be the bright star of the day."

12. "But, Papa, there's no need of talking.
It's hard to tame a wild bird.
I've promised to marry young Willie,
And I'll never go back on my word.

56. THE FROG AND THE MOUSE
"Froggy Went A-Courtin'." Communicated by Miss Elizabeth Burdette, a student in the University of Mississippi, who remarks: "I learnedthis song from my old negro mammy, Nora, who sang it to me when I
was a child." See Cox, No. 162; Scarborough, p. 46; Payne, Some Texas Versions f "The Frog's Courting" (reprinted from Publications of the Texas Folk-Lore Society, No. V, 1926); Odum and Johnson, Negro Workaday Songs, p. 187; Wyman and Brockway, Twenty Kentucky Mountain Songs, pp. 86--93.

1. Froggy went, a-courtin', and he did ride,
Um hum
Froggy went a-courtin', and he did ride,
Sword and pistol by his side,
Um hum

2. Went to Lady Mouse's home,
Rapped on the door and loudly called,
3. Says to Miss Mousie, "Won't you let me in,
I would sit and card and spin."

4. Takes Miss Mousie on his knee,
Says to Miss Mousie, "Won't you marry me?"

5. "Not without Uncle Rat's consent
Would I marry the president."

6. Uncle Rat gave his consent,
Kicked up his heels and away he went.

7. "Where shall the wedding supper be?"
"Way down yonder by a black-gum tree."

8. "What shall the wedding supper be?"
"Bread and butter and black-eyed pea?"

9. The old cat and kittens went down that way
To be with froggy on his weddin' day.

57. OLD GRAMPUS
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, Tishomingo, Mississippi, a student in the University of Mississippi, who remarks, "I learned to sing this so long ago that I cannot remember when or from whom I learned it." Mrs. C. S. Brown, University, Miss., says that she knew this in her childhood as "Old Pompey." See Gomme, Traditional Games, II, 16-24; Broadwood and Fuller Maitland, English County Songs, pp. 94-95; Folk-Lore Journal, I, 385; Folk-Lore, XXIV, 82; Journal of the Folk-Song Society, V, 295-296; Journal, XIII, 230-231; XXV, 144; XXXIV, 113; Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, 1884, pp. 100-101; Scarborough, pp. 136-137; Focus, III, 155-156 (cf. 274-275); F. C. Brown, Ballad-Literature in North Carolina, p. II; Pound, p. 56;
Perrow, Journal, XXVI, 144.

1. Old Grampus is dead and under the ground,
Under the ground, under the ground,
Old Grampus is dead and under the ground,
Hi-o, hi-o, hi-o.

2. There was an old apple tree over his grave,
Over his grave, over his grave,
There was an old apple tree over his grave;
Hi-o, hi-o, hi-o.

3. The apples began to ripen and fall,
Ripen and fall, ripen and fall,
The apples began to ripen and fall,
Hi-o, hi-o, hi-o.

4. There was an old lady a-picking them up,
Picking them up, picking them up,
There was an old lady a-picking them up,
Hi-o, hi-o, hi-o.

5. Old Grampus raised up and gave her a knock,
Gave her a knock, gave her a knock,
Old Grampus raised up and gave her a knock,
Hi-o, hi-o, hi-o.

6. And made her go walking off hip-pi-ty-hop,
Hip-pi-ty-hop, hip-pi-ty-hop,
And made her go walking off hip-pi-ty-hop,
Hi-o, hi-o, hi-o.

58. SALLY GOODIN
Communicated by Mr. Sandford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School; from a pupil.

1. Had a piece of pie,
Had a piece of puddin';
Gave it all away
To see Sally Goodin.

2. Looked up the road,
Saw Sally comin';
Thought to my soul,
I'd break my neck a-runnin'.

59. POOR THING
Communicated by Mr. R. E. Shands, a student in the University of Mississippi, who states that it is a favorite nonsense song in his home county of Pontotoc.

1. A maid all alone in a poor house did dwell,
With a father and mother, three sisters as well.
She lived all alone, and all was serene.
Her hair was red and her age was nineteen:
- Poor thing!

2. And not far away her lover did dwell,
With a hump-backed rooster, bow-legged as well.
Says he, "Will you fly by the light of yon star?
For I am the I of the you that I are":
- Poor thing!

3. The father then told
the lover to bolt.
He got his horse pistol he'd raised from a colt.
Said the villain to his true, "I'll bid you adieu."
And he went to the chimmy and flew up the flue:
- Poor thing!

60. CLARA NOLAND'S BALL
From the same source as "Poor Thing!"

I. We're all invited and the band's engaged.
We're going to have some fun.
Miss Clara Noland gives a ball;
To-day she's twenty-one.

2. They've borrowed knives and table-cloths
All over the town,
And everyone must bring a chair
If he wishes to sit down.

3. Will you come, will you come?
Oh, you never will forget it if you come,
Where the bells are ringing
And the girls are singing,

4. And the fiddle and the fife go rum tum tum,
Teasing, pleasing, dancing free for all.
There'll be courting in the parlor
At Miss Clara Noland's ball.

61. THE DRUNKARD'S HELL
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi, who states that it was a temperance favorite. I70 Journal of American Folk-Lore. The Journal, XXXV, 424, gives "The Drunkard's Doom," which begins, "At dawn of day I saw a man," but which, except for this slight similarity and the similarity of title, is unlike the following.

1. All on one dark and starless night
I heard and saw an awful sight.
The lightning flashed, the thunder rolled
Above my poor benighted soul.

2. I saw a crowd far down below,
With bloodshot eyes and voices low:
"Come here, young man, we'll make you room;
This is the whiskey-sellers' doom."

3. I saw a crowd far down below
Where all the dying drunkards go:
"Come here, young man, where you belong;
This is the whiskey-sellers' throng."

4. I started and got there at last.
I thought I'd take a social glass,
And every time I stirred it well
I thought about the drunkard's hell.

5. I dashed it down and left that place.
I went to see the fairest face.
I felt like Paul, who once did pray,
Because he washed my sins away.

6. I started on to change my life,
To see my long-neglected wife.
I saw her weeping on the bed
Because her little babe was dead.

7. I told her not to cry nor weep;
Her little babe had gone to sleep.
Its little soul had fled away,
To reign with Christ in endless day.

8. I taken her by her lily-white hand.
She was so weak she could not stand.
I laid her down and prayed a prayer,
That God might bless and save her there.

62. THE COWBOY'S MEDITATION
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, who wrote it down from memory in my presence. (For note on Mr. Bickerstaff, see "The Oxford Girl", B.) Mr. Bickerstaff learned this song from word of mouth when he was a boy. He states that it is still popular in Tishomingo, but that it has no local title. See Lomax, Cowboy Songs, pp. 18--19; Pound, No. 75; Thorp, Songs of the Cowboys, p. 40; Finger, Sailor Chanties and Cowboy Songs, pp. 25-26. An adaptation is printed in Delaney's Song Book No. 4, p. 21, as "The Great Round-up" by A. W. Wilson.

1. Last night as I lay on the prairie
And gazed at the stars in the sky,
I wondered if ever a cowboy
Would drift to the Sweet Bye and Bye.

2. The trail to that bright mystic region
Is narrow and dim, so they say;
But the road that leads to perdition
Is posted and blazed all the way.

3. I wondered whose fault that so many
Will be lost on that great final Day,
When they might have been good and had plenty
Had they known this dim narrow Way.

4. They say that there'll be one grand Roundup,
When the cowboys like cattle shall stand,
To be culled by the Riders of Judgment,
Who are posted and know every brand.

5. Perhaps there will be some stray cowboy,
Unbranded, unclaimed by those nigh,
And mavericked by the Riders of Judgment
And shipped to the Sweet Bye and Bye.

63. THE JOLLY COWBOY
Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi, who formerly resided in Calhoun County.

1. I am a jolly old cowboy
Just off the Texas plains.
My trade is girthing saddles
And pulling bridle reins.

2. My name is nothing extra,
So that I will not tell.
I've crossed the Rocky Mountains,
Where many a cowboy fell.

3. I've worked upon the ranches
And trailed up the trail,
I've seen the glittering lightning
And felt the beating hail.

4. I can use the lasso
With the most graceful ease,
I can rope the wildest broncho
And ride him where I please.

5. My bosses they all like me,
They say I can't be beat.
I give them a bold stand-off,
They know I've got the cheek.

6. It's true I work for wages,
My pay I get in gold.
I'll follow the long-horn cattle
Until I get too old.

64. I'M A GOOD OLD REBEL
Communicated by Mr. A. H. Burnette, a student in the University of Mississippi, from the singing of his mother, Mrs. G. A. Burnette. Rena Lara, Mississippi. See Cox, No. 77.

1. I served with old Bob Lee three years about,
Got wounded in four places, and starved at Point Lookout.
I caught the rheumatism camping in the snow.
I killed a sight of Yankees, and wish I'd killed some more.

Chorus: For I'm a good old rebel, that's what I am,
And for this land of freedom I don't care a damn.
I'm glad I fought against her; I only wish we'd won,
And I don't ask no pardons for anything I've done.

2. I hate the Constitution, the great republic too;
I hate the mighty eagle and the uniform of blue;
I hate the glorious banner and all their flags and fuss;
Those lying, thieving Yankees, I hate 'em wuss and wuss.

3. I won't be reconstructed, I'm better now than them;
For those dirty carpet-baggers I don't give a damn.
So I'm off to the border as soon as I can go;
I'll get me a gun and leave for Mexico.

65. THE RAM OF DERBY
Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi, whose present home is in Water Valley, Mississippi, but who formerly lived in Calhoun County. [See Jewitt, The Ballads and Songs of Derbyshire, 1867, pp. 115 - iig; Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Association, XXIX (1907), 31-37; County Folk-Lore, VII (I914), 230 (Fife); A. Williams, Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames, 1923, PP-43-44; Anglia, Beiblatt, XII (1901); Kinloch, The Ballad Book, 1827, pp. 80- 81; Greig, Folk-Song of the North-East, XIV (cf. CXLIX); Ford, Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland, I, 135-137; cf. Notes and
Queries, Ist Series, II (1850), 71, 235; 4th Series, IV (1869), 188,247. For American variants see Rosa S. Allen, Family Songs, 1899, p. 7; Clifton Johnson, What They Say in New England, pp. 228 -229; Notes and Queries, ioth Series, I (1904), 306 (Cape Cod); Truitt, Journal, XXXVI, 377, Colcord, Roll and Go, pp. 68-69, (Kentucky). For similar grotesque and jocose exaggerations cf. Perrow, Journal, XXVI, I26 ("That Mule"). - G. L. K.]

I. There was a ram in Derby, I've often heard it said,
He was the largest ram, sir, that ever wore a head.
Chorus: And if you don't believe me and think it is a lie,
Just go down to Derby, 0, and see the same as I.

2. He had forty teeth, sir, each hollow as a horn,
And every tooth he had, sir, would hold a barrel of corn.

3. He had four feet, sir, on which he had to stand,
And every foot he had, sir, would cover an acre of land.

4. The wool upon his back, sir, it reached up to the sky;
The eagles built their nest there to hear their young ones cry.

5. The wool upon his belly, sir, reached to the ground;
The Devil stole a strand of it to make his wife a gown.

6. The horns upon his head, sir, were higher than I could reach;
They built a pulpit up there for the Campbellites to preach.

7. His tail was so long, sir, I couldn't tell;
It reached across the market place and rang the market bell.

8. The man that killed that ram, sir, was drowned in the blood;
The people living round about perished in the flood.

66. THE LITTLE FAMILY
"Bethany." Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, with the following note: "Written [i. e., copied] by E. Varner, October 6, 1862, for Miss Alfred, who married a Childre and was Mrs. Myers's
mother." For further information about this text, see "The Silk-Merchant's Daughter." The spelling and punctuation of the Varner MS. are retained. See Cox, No. 134.

1. There was a little family
They lived in Bethany
Two sisters and a brother
Composed the family.

2. In prayers and in singing
Like angels in the skies
At morning and at eaving
They'd raise their voices high.

3. They lived in peace and pleasure
For lonly many years
And laid a way their treasures
Beyond this vail of tears.

4. Though poor and without money
Their kindness mad amend
Their house was always open
To Jesus and his friends.

5. But while they lived so happy
So kind, so pure, and good
Their brother was afflicted
And ruly thrown on bed.

6. Poor Martha and her sister
They wept aloud and cried
But still he grew no better
He lingered and he died.

7. The Jews came to the sisters
Laid Lazarus in his tomb
And tried for to comfort
And drive away their gloom.

8. When Jesus heard the tidings
Fare in a distant land
So swiftly did he travel
To see this lovely band.

9. While Jesus was a-coming
Martha met him on the way
And told him how her brother
Had died and passed away.

10. He blessed her and cheared her
And told her not to weep
For in him was the power
To raise him from his sleep.

11. While Jesus was still coming
Mary run and met him too
And at his feet fell weeping
Rehursed the tail of wo.

12. When Jesus saw her weeping
He fell to weeping too
And wept on till they showed him
Where Lazarus was in tomb.

13. He rolled away the cover
And looked upon the grave
And prayed to his Father
His lovely friend to save.

14. And Lazarus in full power
Rose from the gloomy mound
And in full life and vigor
He walked upon the ground.

15. If you will love Jesus
And do his holy will
Like Martha and like Mary
He will always use you well.

16. From death he will redeem us
And take us to the skies
And bade us live forever
Where pleasure never dies.

67. A SONG BALLAD
No other title. Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, with the following note: "Written [i. e., copied] by E. Varner, October 6, 1862, for Miss Alfred." For further information about this text see "The Silk-Merchant's Daughter." The spelling and punctuation of the Varner MS. are retained.

1. When I was young of tender years
My savior did invite me,
My heart was filled with many fears,
But Satan did entice me.

2. He told me that I was too young
To leave my sinful pleasures,
That I might waite till I was old
And serve God with leasure.

3. At length the Spirit came one day
And strove with mighty power
Which caused me to forsake my ways
And trimble every hour.

4. Which caused me to weep and mourn
Saying Lord Jesus save me
If mercie thou canst me afford
Up to thy glory raise me.

5. When Jesus heard the rebel cry
He sent his kind compashion
Down at his feet my soul did lie
There waiting for a blessing.

6. My heart was filled with tenderness
My mouth was filled with praise,
While Aba Father I did cry
And glory to my Savior.

7. Glory to God for I have found
The pearl of my salvation
I am a marching through Emanuel's ground
Up to the heavenly Canaan.

8. Now I am reserved to serve the Lord
And never more forsake Him.
I'll march along the heavenly road
Till I do o'ertake Him.

9. For Christ says, fear not little flock
Heirs of Emortal Glory
For you are built upon the rock
The kingdom lies before you.

10. Press on, press on ye heirs of grace,
And tell the pleasing story,
I am with my little flock all way
I'll bring them home to glory.

68. OLD BLUE (A Banjo Song.)
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School. Mr. Hughston, who adds the subtitle "A Banjo Song," states that he obtained it from one
of his pupils and that it is a local favorite. Major L. E. Oldham, of Oxford, Mississippi, former United States Attorney, states that he knows the song well and that it has long been a favorite in Lafayette County.

1. I had an old dog, his name was Blue;
I tell you boys, he was a rounder too.
Chorus: Come on Blue, come on, Blue,
You old rascal you.

2. Old Blue treed; I went to see;
There sat the 'possum on a 'simmon tree.

3. He grinned at me; I looked at him.
I shook him out; Blue took him in.

4. I took him home and baked him brown,
Placed them 'taters all around.

5. "Blue, what makes your eyes so red ?"
"I've run them 'possums till I'm almost dead."

6. Old Blue died; I laid him in the shade,
I dug his grave with a silver spade.

7. I let him down with a golden chain;
Link by link slipped through my hand.

8. There is only one thing that bothers my mind:
Blue went to heaven and left me behind.

9. When I get there, the first thing I'll do,
Grab me a horn and blow for Old Blue.

69. OLD NAPPER
Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi, who obtained it from Miss Ila Long, Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi; the latter from her aged mother, who sings it.

1. Old Napper was a good coon-dog,
Old Trailer was the same;
Old Napper beat old Trailer so bad
It made old Trailer ashame.

Chorus: Foddy ling a ding
Run about Napper, ho!
Foddy ling a ding
Run about Napper, ho!

2. The raccoon's tail is ringed all around,
The 'possum's tail is bare,
The rabbit has no tail at all,
But a little bunch of hair.

3. Old Tom cat was so fat
He could not catch the mice,
He lost the fine-tooth comb,
And his head ran away with lice.

70. OLD BLIND DRUNK JOHN
Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi; obtained from Miss Ila Long, of Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi, who wrote it down while her aged mother sang it. See note p. 199 cf. below.

I. I saw a louse run a mouse,
Fooba wooba, fooba wooba,
I saw a louse run a mouse,
Fooba wooba John,
I saw a louse run a mouse
From the kitchen to the house,
The old, blind, drunk John,
Fooba wooba John.

2. I saw a squirrel run a deer,
Fooba wooba, fooba wooba,
I saw a squirrel run a deer,
Fooba wooba John,
I saw a squirrel run a deer,
And he ran it seven year,
The old, blind, drunk John,
Fooba wooba John.

3. I saw a flea kick a tree,
Fooba wooba, fooba wooba
I saw a flea kick a tree,
Fooba wooba John,
I saw a flea kick a tree
In the middle of the sea,
The old, blind, drunk John,
Fooba wooba John.

71. THE QUILTING PARTY
Communicated by Mrs. Mims Williams, Magee, Mississippi, who obtained it from Jesse Smith (col.), who learned it from her greatgrandmother about twenty-three years ago.

1. It was down at Maggie Parson's house
The gals did have a quilting
Just for to show their handsome looks
And have a little jilting.

2. There was Deacon Jones's daughter Sal,
And Squire Wheeler's daughter Mary,
And Jenny Carter's youngest gal,
That looks just like a fairy.

3. While we all were whirling and playing -
We were playing "Hunt the Slipper" -
Miss Julie Carter went to get
Some cider in the dipper.

4. She shut the door and on the dot,
Just outside in the entrance
She gave a scream and stood stock still
Just like a frozen sentinel.

5. We all ran out and there, I swar,
A-hugging like creation,
Miss Carter and Sam Jones we saw
Kissing like tarnation.

6. Oh, such a laugh as we set up,
You never heared such final.
I said, "I guess kissing's cheap,
Don't you think so, Cal'lina?"

7. You ought to seen Miss Carter.
She looked like she was painted-;
She said she had the toothache
And in Sam Jones's arms she fainted.

8. Now, young gals, I say to you,
When you go to a quilt make,
Don't let the fellows kiss aud hug
Unless you've got the toothache.

72. PAPER OF PINS
A.
Communicated by Miss Mabel Mooney, Oxford, Mississippi, from the singing of her mother, Mrs. M. L. Mooney, who formerly resided in Calhoun County. No local title. See Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, 1884, pp. 51 - 55; Campbell and Sharp, No. 92; Singer's Journal, I, 407; Pound, No. III; Belden, No. 141; Shearin and Combs, p. 29; F. C. Brown, Ballad-Literature in North Carolina, p. 12.

I. "I'll give to you a little pet dog,
To carry with you when you go abroad,
If you will marry me, oh, me,
If you will marry me."

2. "I will not accept your little pet dog,
To carry with me when I go abroad;
And I won't marry you, oh, you,
And I won't marry you."

3. "I'll give to you a dress of red,
All bound around with a golden thread,
If you will marry me, oh, me,
If you will marry me."

4. "I will not accept your dress of red,
All bound around with a golden thread;
And I won't marry you, oh, you,
And I won't marry you."

5. "I'll give to you a dress of green,
That you may live as any queen,
If you will marry me, oh, me,
If you will marry me."

6. "I will not accept your dress of green,
That I may live as any queen;
And I won't marry you, oh, you,
And I won't marry you."

7. "I'll give to you the key of my heart,
That we may live and never part,
If you will marry me, oh, me,
If you will marry me."

8. "I will not accept the key to your heart,
That we may live and never part;
And I won't marry you, oh, you,
And I won't marry you."

9. "I'll give to you the key to my chest,
That you may have money at your request,
If you will marry me, oh, me,
If you will marry me."

10. "I will accept the key to your chest,
That I may have money at my request;
And I will marry you, oh, you,
And I will marry you."

11. "I have tried you in every other way,
And I can't get you only by pay;
And I won't marry you, oh, you,
And I won't marry you."

B.
Communicated by Miss Elizabeth Burdette, a student in the University of Mississippi, who learned it from her old colored nurse.

I. "I'll give to you a paper of pins
If that's the way that love begins,
If you will marry me, oh, me,
If you will marry me."

2. "I'll not accept your paper of pins
If that's the way love begins,
And I'll not marry you, oh, you,
And I'll not marry you."

3. "I'll give to you a dress of red, ... ." etc.

4. "I'll not accept the dress of red .... " etc.

5, 6. "I'll give to you a dress of green
That you may look like Anne the Queen, .. " etc.

7, 8. "I'll give to you a coach and four
With all the horses white as snow, ...." etc.

9, 10. "I'll give to you a coach and six
With horses black as pitch, .......... " etc.

11, 12. "I'll give to you a coach and eight
With all the horses gray as slate, ... " etc.

13, 14. (As in A, 10, 11.)

C.
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School; obtained from one of his pupils.

Four stanzas - "pins," "dress of red."

73. TIME ENOUGH YET
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi.

1. I courted as long as the siege of old Troy;
To win a fair maiden my time did employ.
But when I asked her the wedding to set,
The answer she gave me was, "Time enough yet."

Chorus: Time enough yet; there's time enough yet:
The answer she gave me was "Time enough yet."

2. I picked up my hat and stepped out the door,
Declaring to be in her presence no more.
Next morning I met her maid coming in haste.
I eagerly asked her what had taken place.
She said her young mistress did nothing but fret.
I told her to tell her, "There's time enough yet."

Chorus: Time enough yet; there's time enough yet, etc.

3. She wrote me a letter as long as her arm,
Declaring within it she meant no harm.
I picked up my chair and down in it I set.
I wrote her for answer, "There's time enough yet."

4. Now all you young ladies who've sweethearts aplenty,
Be sure you get married before you are twenty,
For if you do not, you're sure to regret
The first time you answered, "There's time enough yet."

Chorus: Time enough yet; there's time enough yet:
You'll rue if you say, "There's time enough yet."

74. MARY BLAIN
Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, a student in the University of Mississippi, who states that he obtained it from Mrs. Barnett, "a very old lady living in the eastern part of Lee County." He adds: "She  sang it while I endeavored to get the words. She says that she learned it from her mother when she was only a child. She comes from fine old English and Irish ancestry." See note pp. 200 ff. below.

1. I wish I were in Ireland,
And sitting in my chair,
And in my hand a glass of wine,
And by my side my dear.

Chorus: Then farewell, poor Mary Blain.
Oh, do take care of yourself, my dear,
For I am coming back again.

2. Her eyes are like the bright corn meal,
Made out of flint and steel,
And when she rolled them at me,

Chorus: Then farewell, etc.

75. HARD TIMES
Communicated by Mr. A. H. Burnett, who obtained it from Mr. G. P. Strider (see "Jack Donahoo"). See Cox, No. 183; Colcord, Roll and Go, p. 100.

1. Come listen a while, I'll sing you a song
Concerning the times - it will not be long -
When everybody is striving to buy
And cheating each other, I cannot tell why.
And it's hard, hard times.

2. From father to mother, from sister to brother,
From cousin to cousin, they're cheating each other.
Since cheating has grown to be so much in fashion,
I believe to my soul it will ruin the whole nation.
And it's hard, hard times.

3. Now here is a talker - by talking he eats;
And so does the butcher by selling his meats;
He'll toss the steelyards and weigh it right down,
And swear it's just right if it lacks forty pound.
And it's hard, hard times.

4. And there is the merchant - honest, we're told -
Whatever he sells you, my friend, you are sold.
Believe what he tells you, and don't feel surprise
If you find yourself cheated half out of your eyes.
And it's hard, hard times.

5. And there is the lawyer: you plainly will see
He'll plead your case for a very large fee:
He'll law you and. tell you that wrong is right
And make you believe that a black horse is white.
And it's hard, hard times.

6. And there is the doctor I like to forgot:
I believe to my soul he's the worst of the lot;
He'll tell you he'll cure you for half you possess,
And when you're buried he'll take all the rest.
And it's hard, hard times.

76. THE GIN SONG
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School; from a pupil.

I. I'll write this little song
And send it to the gin;
They say there is a songster there
By the name of Shack McMinn.

2. Tell him to take it to that little house
And give it to Jim Thorn;
Tell him to read it just as loud
As he can blow a horn.

3. And Knox, that little dandy,
Up to the gate did sail;
And said cuss words to Wilkerson,
Who hit him with a rail.

4. Miss Meacy wants to marry,
I'll tell you how I know,
For every time she goes to church,
She tries to catch a beau.

5. What makes that Rotenberry
Just do us as he please;
He takes us down to Batesville,
And binds us o'er to peace.

77. OVER THERE
"The wonderful song of 'Over There' " (four stanzas, with music) was published by Atwill (New York) in 1844. See also Howe's 100 Comic Songs, p. 31; Spaeth, Read 'em and Weep, 1927, pp. 33--34. Communicated
by Mrs. Emma Sykes Kennon; transmitted to her from sources described in the note on "King William."

Oh, I had an apple pie,
Over there, over there.
Oh, I had an apple pie,
And the crust was made of rye,
And 'twas eat that or die,
Over there, over there.
Oh, the potatoes they grow tall,
Over there, over there.
Oh, the potatoes they grow tall,
And they plant them in the fall,
And they eat them tops and all,
Over there, over there.

78. CALOMEL
Communicated by Mr. M. G. Campbell, Kosciusko, Attala County, Mississippi, who describes it as "one that I have never heard sung except by my mother. It relates to calomel as a panacea used by the old-time doctor for all the ills that human flesh is heir to." Apparently not related, except in subject and in spirit, to Pound,
No. 54.

1. Mr. B.... was taken sick:
"Send for the doctor, and be quick!"
The doctor was sent for by post of mail,
Saying, "Give him a dose of calomel."

2. Mr. B.... grew worse, and worse indeed:
"Send for two doctors; ride in speed!"
The doctors came by post of mail,
Saying, "Double the dose of calomel!"

79. LORENIA
From Mrs. G. V. Easley, Tula, Mississippi. This seems to be incomplete.  Pound, p. 65, lists "Lorena," summing up the story thus: "In old plantation days the speaker had courted and married Lorena. One day she was sold as a slave to Virginia, where later she dies." The chorus, however, differs from the one below.

1. Away down on the old plantation
There my master owned me, a slave,
And he owned a yellow gal named Lorenia,
And we courted where the wild bananas wave.

Chorus: No more will the moon shine, Lorenia,
As we sat and watched the coons in the corn,
And the 'possums they were playing among the bananas
And the owls were floating over the barn.

2. Oh, how I long to see my Lorenia;
The thought of her is ever in my head.
One day old master read me a letter
Telling me my Lorenia was dead.

Chorus: No more will the moon shine, Lorenia, etc.

3. I know her soul is gone to heaven.
There the darkies is free from all pain.
And to her a bright crown has been given,
And no more will she wear the darky's chain.

Chorus: No more will the moon shine, Lorenia,
As we sat and watched the coons in the corn,
And the 'possums they were playing among the bananas
And the owls were floating over the barn.

80. THE FADED COAT OF BLUE
Communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, who obtained it from Mrs. Arrie Carr, Tishomingo, Mississippi. (For a note on Mr. Bickerstaff, see "The Oxford Girl," B.) This is evidently an old popular Civil War song which, taking no more account of the differences between Blue and Gray than did the women of Columbus, Mississippi, who for the first time decorated alike the graves of Blue and Gray, the people who had worn the Gray took to their hearts. It was very popular in Tishomingo County, according to Mr. Bickerstaff, and was written down from memory by Mrs. Carr, to whom it was transmitted orally. Published as a broadside by H. T. Wehman, New York, No. 72.

1. My brave lad he sleeps in his faded coat of blue.
In his lonely grave unknown lies the heart that beat so true.
He sank, faint and hungry, among the famished brave,
And they laid him, sad and lonely, in his nameless grave.

Chorus: No more the bugle calls the weary one, alone.
Rest, noble spirit, in thy grave unknown.
I shall find you and know you among the good and true,
Where a robe of white is given for the faded coat of blue.

2. He cried; "Give me water and just one little crumb,
And my mother she will bless you through all the years to come.
Oh, tell my sweet sister, so gentle, good, and true,
That I'll meet her up in heaven in my faded coat of blue."

Chorus: No more the bugle calls the weary one, alone, etc.

3. "Oh," he said, "my dear comrades, you cannot take me home,
But you'll mark my grave for mother; she'll find it when she comes.
I fear she will not know me among the good and true,
When a robe of white is given for the faded coat of blue."

Chorus: No more the bugle calls the weary one, alone, etc.

4. No dear one was by him to close his sweet blue eyes,
And no gentle one was by him to give him sweet replies.
No stone marks the sod o'er my laa so brave and true.
In his lonely grave he sleeps, in his faded coat of blue.

Chorus: No more the bugle calls the weary one, alone.
Rest, noble spirit, in thy grave unknown.
I shall find you and know you among the good and true,
When a robe of white is given for the faded coat of blue.

81. I'M GONNA MAKE IT TO MY SHANTY EF I KIN.
Communicated by Mr. Sanford R. Hughston, principal of the Courtland (Panola County, Mississippi) Public School; obtained from one of his pupils, who sings it.

I. I've been workin' all the week,
Now I've stole a ham of meat.
I'm gonna make it to my shanty
Ef I kin, ef I kin;
Don't care where nor when;
I'm gonna make it to my shanty ef I kin.

2. Now I've stole me a bucket of lard,
Gonna keep my feet outa w'ite folks' yard.
I'm gonna keep my skillit greasy
Ef I kin, ef I kin;
Don't care where nor when;
I'm gonna keep my skillit greasy ef I kin.

3. I walked all the way to New Orleans
Just to steal a sack of greens.
I'm gonna keep my pot a-bilin'
Ef I kin, ef I kin;
Don't care where nor when;
I'm gonna keep my pot a-bilin' ef I kin.

4. All them chickens up dat tree;
'Tain't nobody here but me.
Gonna ketch me some chickens
Ef I kin, ef I kin;
Don't care where nor when;
Gonna ketch me some chickens ef I kin.

5. All them rabbits up dat log,
An' I ain't got no rabbit dog.
Gonna ketch me some rabbits
Ef I kin, ef I kin;
Don't care where nor when;
Gonna ketch me some rabbits ef I kin.

6. I went all the way to Tennessee
Jest to ketch a bumblebee.
I'm gonna tote him in my pocket
Ef I kin, ef I kin;
Don't care where nor when;
Gonna tote him in my pocket ef I kin.

82. GOIN' OUT IN YOUR NAME
Communicated by Ethel Gordon (colored), Oxford, Mississippi.

1. Some one went to Jesse's house
To choose the God a king;
He poured the oil on seven heads,
But David was the one.

Chorus: I'm goin' out in your name,
I'm goin' out in your name.
If I die on the battlefield,
Goin' to die in Jesus' name.

2. Jesse had seven sons
Out on the battlefield,
Fighting against Goliath
With brass shields and with steel.

3. David took his shepherd bag,
Down by the brook he went;
On the way to the battle ground
He ask God to give him strength.

4. He bore the earth's strong pillar up
And spread the heavens abroad;
He prop me on every leaning side
An' ketch me as I fall.

5. David took his shepherd bag,
Down to the brook he went:
"Don't give me no helmet,
All I want is strength."

6. God He moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps on the sea
An' rides upon the storm.

83. THE PRODIGAL SON
Communicated by Ethel Gordon (colored), Oxford, Mississippi, whose frequent singing of it in the kitchen of my home attracted my attention to it.

1. When I was with my father
I certainly was well supplied.
I made a mistake, I done wrong.
And now I am dissatisfied.

Chorus: I'm goin' back to my father
An' fall down on my knees,
Acknowledge I been disobedient -
"Forgive me if you please."

2. The father saw the chile a-comin',
He met him with a smile,
He throwed his arms around him,
Said, "Here comes my lovin' chile."

3. The father said to the servant,
"Go kill the fattest calf;
Go call my friends and neighbors;
My chile come home at las'."

4. They met together rejoicin';
I know they had a good time,
For the ole man got happy;
They had satisfied his min'.

5. The other son got jealous
An' he begin to say,
"You done more for my brother
Than you ever done for me."

6. The ole man spoked to him
An' with an able min':
"My son, you been with me all the time.
And all I have is thine."

Chorus: I believe I go back home,
I believe I go back home,
I believe I go back home,
Acknowledge I done wrong.

84. BEEN LISTENIN' ALL THE NIGHT LONG
Communicated by Mr. M. G. Campbell, Kosciusko (Attala County), Mississippi, who describes it as "a negro religious song," and says, "There are several more stanzas belonging to it, but I do not recall the
others."

1. When I was first converted,
I thought my work was done,
But the elder came and told me
My work had just begun.

Chorus: Been listenin' all the night long,
Been listenin' all the night long,
Been listenin' all the night long,
To hear one sinner pray.

85. KING WILLIAM*
The following words and description of this singing game were contributed by Mrs. Emma Sykes Kennon, of University, Mississippi, who stated that the game was popular among children when she was a girl, in Clay County, Mississippi, which touches the southeast corner of Calhoun County:

"This is a game to be played on a pretty green lawn, or, for want of better, on a bare school yard.
"Girls and boys form into a large circle, holding hands, and march around and around to the right, keeping time to the beat of the song. One boy is in the center of the circle. They sing:

'King William was King James's son.
Upon the royal race he run.
Upon his breast he wore a star
Pointing to the pickle jar."

"Then all stop, stand where they are, and sing the second stanza:

'Go choose your East, go choose your West,
Go choose the one that you love best.
If she's not here to take her part,
Choose another with all your heart."

"The boy within the circle has, during the singing of the second stanza, skipped out to the rim of the circle and chosen a girl. Together they skip back to the center of the circle. With the singing of the third stanza, the boy kneels before the girl, kisses her, then runs away to the circle.

'Down on this carpet you must kneel
As sure as the grass grows in the field.
Salute your bride and kiss her sweet.
Now you may rise upon your feet."

"The girl is left in the middle of the circle, and it is 'up to her' to make the next choice. This lends a good bit of spice and merriment to the game. The song begins again as at first. The game may go on indefinitely, the singers scarcely pausing for breath."

86. HOG-DROVERS
Dictated to me by Mr. G. V. Easley and Mr. Wesson Crocker in the former's home, June, 1925. See also Dudley and Payne, Publications of the Folk-Lore Society of Texas, No. I (1916), pp. I5-16. Cf. Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, 1884, pp. 46--47. ' See Gomme, Traditional Games, I, 302-304; Newell, Games and Songs, pp. 73-75; Wolford, pp. 62-64; Pound, p. 74.

This song is used in a game. The first and third stanzas are sung by  the "hog-drovers"; the second and fourth by the father at whose house the hog-drovers apply for lodging. The game is played as follows: A
boy, representing the head of the house, and a girl, representing the daughter, seat themselves in the middle of a room. The girls of the party are seated around the walls of the room. The boys, representing the hog-drovers, enter, two abreast, singing the first stanza:

Hog-drovers, hog-drovers, hog-drovers we air,
A-courtin' your darter so neat and so fair.
Can we git lodgin' here, oh here?
Can we git lodgin' here?

They stop in front of the seated couple when they have finished the stanza. The Old Man, the head of the house, replies:

Oh, this is my darter that sits by my lap,
And none o' you pig-stealers can git her from her pap,
And you cain't git lodgin' here, oh here,
And you cain't git lodgin' here

The hog-drovers. march or jig around the seated couple, singing:

A good-lookin' darter, but ugly yo'self;
We'll travel on further and git on the shelf;
And we don't want lodgin' here, oh here,
And we don't want lodgin' here.

When the hog-drovers have completed the circuit of the room, around the seated couple, they halt again in front of the couple, while the Old Man sings:

Oh, this is my darter that sits by my lap,
And Mr. [a boy's name] can git her from her pap,
If he'll put another one here, oh here,
If he'll put another one here.

The boy called by name jigs to one of the girls seated against the wall, bows to her, jigs back with her, and exchanges her for the one first seated with the Old Man. These newly made partners take their place
in the rear of the column of hog-drovers. The game starts over and continues until all of the boys and girls are thus paired off.

B.
Communicated by Mr. M. G. Campbell, Kosciusko, Attala County, Mississippi. The same as A, except that the second stanza has the rhymes "side ..... bride" and the third the couplet:

"We care little for your daughter, much less for yourself;
"We'll travel on further and seek better wealth."

87. THE HAPPY MILLER
Dictated to me by Mr. Wesson M. Crocker, University, Mississippi. Mr. Crocker stated that the game of which this song is a part was very popular in Calhoun county when he was a boy. The game is a sort of dance. See Gomme, Traditional Games, I, 289-293; Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, 1884, pp. 102-103; Wolford, The Play- Party in Indiana, pp. 67--70; Dudley and Payne, Publications of the Folk-Lore Society of Texas, No. I (I916), p. 13; Pound, p. 73.

Happy is the miller that stands by his mill.
Every time the mill turns it turns to his will.
One hand in the hopper, the other in the sack;
Every time the mill turns it turns right back.

88. CHARLIE
A.
Also dictated by Mr. Crocker, who stated that the following stanza was the only one of a very long series which he remembered. This song, too, is used in a game similar to "The Happy Miller." It was likewise very popular in the rural districts of Mississippi a generation ago, and is still played in a few communities. Cf. Wolford, pp. 102--106.

Over the river to feed my sheep,
Over the river to Charlie;
Over the river to feed my sheep
And measure up my barley.

B.
"Charlie." The following version, written down for me in my presence by Mrs. Lemuella Almond, Oxford, Mississippi, who was brought up in Calhoun County, is also known as "Charlie." See Scarborough, p. 286.

1. Charlie he's a nice young man,
Charlie he's a dandy,
Every time he goes to town
He buys the ladies candy.*

Chorus: (As in the common version of "Yankee Doodle.")

2. Charlie wears a ruffled shirt,
Charlie courts Miss Mandy;
When he takes her out to church
He looks all spick and spandy.

Chorus: An' a whoop te do, an' a whoop te do,
An' a whoop te doodle dandy,
Charlie is a nice young man;
He buys the ladies candy.

3. Charlie boy he went to town
Upon a load of lumber;
He stuck a splinter in his toe
And thought he heard it thunder.

*Cf. Sharp, Nursery songs from the Appalachian Mountains, No. 12;
Dudley and Payne, as above, p. 16.