John Randall- Smith (MO) 1912 Belden A
[From Ballads and Songs collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society, 1940, ed. Belden. An excerpt of his notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
The name of the poisoned one varies greatly; one name, Tyranty, belongs exclusively, so far as the record goes, to New England. The poisoner is commonly the victim's sweetheart, but may be his stepmother, his grandmother, his sister, his wife, or even (BBI) himself.[1] The poison is commonly snake venom (often described as 'eels' or spotted, striped, or speckled fish caught in a hedge or ditch ) but may be simply 'bread and poison' or 'a cup of cold poison'; in Child M it is apparently and in the Cumberland version listed above it is specifically toads. Altho there is little if anything that is distinctive in the Missouri versions,
it seems best to give them here for the benefit of future students of this particular ballad story.
1. In a text from family tradition in Vermont given me in 1920 by Mr. P. G. Perrin the poisoner is 'grandpa'!
A. [John Randall] No title. Communicated in 1912 by Juliet L. Smith as learned by her father from a house-painter in Ray County. Imperfectly remembered.
'Where have you been, John Randall, my son?
Where have you been, my dear little one?'
. . . .
. . . .
'What had you for supper, John Randall, my son ?
What had you for supper, my dear little one?'
'I had eels fried in butter; mother, make my bed soon,
I've a pain in my heart and I want to lie down.'
''What do you will to your sister, John Randall, my son?
What do you will to your sister, my dear tittle one?'
'A coach and four horses that she may ride round.
I've a pain in my heart and I want to lie down.'