The Jealous Hearted Husband- Dusenberry (AR) 1937
[My date, Dusenbury died in 1941. From: Some Rarities from Arkansas by Ed Cary; Midwest Folklore, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Spring, 1959), pp. 21-30. Followinf is part of a bio,
R. Matteson 2013]
Emma Hays Dusenbury (1862–1941) was born on January 9, 1862, probably in Habersham County or Rabun County, Georgia, to William Jasper Hays and Mary Jane Pitts. She came to Arkansas with her parents and four siblings in 1872, staying first in Crittenden County but eventually settling in Baxter County, near Gassville. Sometime after 1880, she married Ernest Dusenbury, who was from Illinois. Two years later, they had a daughter. In about 1894 or 1895, she suffered a serious illness that left her blind.
69. THE JEALOUS HEARTED HUSBAND
Mrs. Dusenberry has a unique version of "Our Goodman" (Child 274) primarily because of the cumulative nature of the man's response. This seems to be the first time that the song has been reported in this form. The length is also a little unusual in that the husband discovers six suspicious items instead of the more common three or four.
I went into my setting room, to see what I could see.
Three gents' hats a-hanging there, one, two by three.
I called to my dear loving wife. "Kind sir," she answered me.
"What's these three gentlemen's hats a-doing here, unless they belong to me?"
"You old fool, you blind fool, can't you very well see.
Here's three soup bowls my mammy sent to me."
"Hey, oh, soup bowls with hat bands on, such things I never did see.
They're always here when I am gone; here they must be."
I went into my dressing room, to see what I could see.
Three gentlemen's coats a-hanging there, one, two and three.
I called to my dear loving wife. "Kind sir," she answered me.
"What's these three coats a-doing here, unless they belong to me?"
"You old fool, you blind fool, can't you very well see,
Here's three coverlids my mammy sent to me."
"Hey, oh, coverlids with buttons on, and soup bowls with hat bands on, such things I never did see.
They're always here when I am gone, and here they must be."
I went into my drawing room to see what I could see.
Three gentlemen's boots a-setting there, one, two and three.
I called to my dear loving wife. "Kind sir," she answered me.
"What's these three gentlemen's boots a-doing here, unless they belong to me?"
You old fool, you blind fool, can't you very well see,
Here's three pudding bags, my mammy sent to me."
"Hey, oh, pudding bags with spurs on, and coverlids with buttons on,
and soup bowls with hat bands on, such things I never did see.
They're always here when I am gone, and here they must be."
I went into my bedroom, to see what I could see.
Three gentlemen a-lying there, one, two and three.
I called to my dear loving wife. "Kind sir," she answered me.
"What's these three gentlemen a-doing here, unless they live with me?"
"You old fool, you blind fool, can't you very well see,
Here's three milk maids, my mammy sent to me."
"Hey, oh, milk maids with whiskers on, and pudding bags with spurs on,
and coverlids with buttons on and soup bowls with hat bands, on, such things I never did see.
They're always here when I am gone, and here they must be."
I went into my back yard, to see what I could see.
Three gentlemen's dogs a-lying there, one, two and three.
I called to my dear loving wife. "Kind sir," she answered me.
"What's these three gentlemen's dogs a-doing here, unless they belong to me?"
"You old fool you blind fool, can't you very well see,
Here's three sucking calves my mammy sent to me."
"Hey, oh, sucking calves with flopping ears, and milk maids with whiskers on and pudding bags with spurs on and coverlids with buttons on and soup bowls with hat bands on, such things I never did see.
They're always here when I am gone, and here they must be."
I went into my horse lot, to see what I could see.
Three gentlemen's horses a-standing there, one, two and three.
I called to my dear loving wife. "Kind sir," she answered me.
"What's these three horses a-doing here unless they belong to me?"
"You old fool, you blind fool, can't you very well see,
Here's three milch cows my mother sent to me."
"Hey, oh, milch cows with saddles on and sucking calves with flopping ears and milk maids with whiskers on and pudding bags with spurs on and coverlids with buttons on and soup bowls with hat bands on, such things I never did see.
They're always here when I am gone, and here they must be."