In Jersey City- Minnie Curtis (NC) 1937 Abrams A
[From Abrams Collection, App State
R. Matteson 2017]
In Jersey City- by Minnie Curtis. Taken from Ruth Shoon Oct. 1 1937, a student at App State, who got it from her mother Mrs Fred Shoon, who got it from Mrs. Shoon's mother, Mrs. Minnie Curtis.
1 In Jersey City I used to dwell
A butcher boy I loved so well.
He courted me my life away
And then with me he would not stay.
2 There was a house in that same town
He often went and sat around.
He toke a strange girl on his knee
And told her things that he wouldn't tell me.
3 Say do you know the reason why,
Because she has more gold than I.
But beauty will fade and he gold will fly;
And then she'll be as poor as I.
4 She went upstairs to fix her bed
And nothing to her mother said.
And when her father he came home,
And says, "Where's my daughter gone?
5. He searched the house all through and 'round
And nothing of his daughter found
He went upstairs and broke the door
And found her hanging by the rope.
6 He drew his knife and cut her down
And in her breast this letter was found:
Oh wasn't I a foolish girl
To hang myself for a butcher boy.
7 So dig my grave both wide and deep,
And lay my body down to sleep.
And on my breast place some lonesome dove[1]
To show to this world I died for love.'
1. orignally "dust"