The Three Ravens- McLeod (Wisconsin) 1906
[Since the informant was Mrs. McLeod from Dumfries, Scotland, this version should be considered more properly "a Scottish version" of The Three Ravens that was collected in Wisconsin.
The text, though exception and featuring a lamb instead of a horse, is missing the human elements that are necessary to make this an outstanding contribution of Child 26.
Beatty's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]]
From: Some New Ballad Variants
by Arthur Beatty
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 20, No. 77 (Apr. - Jun., 1907), pp. 154-156
SOME NEW BALLAD VARIANTS.
THE four ballad variants here printed for the first time were collected in the month of December, 19o6, from Mrs. McLeod of Dumfries, Scotland, when she was on a visit to her relatives at Lake Mills, Wisconsin. The versions are undoubtedly traditional, as the reciter could not read or write, nor could her parents before her. She said that she had learned the ballads from her parents, but that she was not always sure of the words in particular cases.
All four are readily classified as variants of ballads already printed in F. J. Child's " English and Scottish Popular Ballads." I is a new version of Child, No. 26 ("The Three Ravens," and "The Twa Corbies"); II is Child, No. 27 (" The Whummil Bore"); III is the first intelligible version known to me of Child, No. 40 ("The Queen of Elfan's Nourice"); and IV is a variant of Child, No. i8i ("The Bonny Earl of Murray").
The collector of these variants, Mr. Claude H. Eldred, an undergraduate of the University of Wisconsin, deserves great praise for the pains and tact necessary for the accomplishment of his task in so thorough a manner.
CHILD, No. 26.
Three crows there were who sat on a tree,
Fa la, hay down, derrie down down,
And they were as black as crow ever could be,
Fa la, hay down, derrie down down.
Then one of them said to his mate on the tree,
"Where do you think our supper will be?"
"Down in the meadow behind a gray stone,
A newly born lambkin is lying alone."
"We'll pluck his eyes out of him one by one,
And let him go blinding ere day is done."
But a gay little birdie far down in the tree
Heard them declare that the lambkin should dee,
So quickly she flew to the cold gray stone
Where the poor little lambkin was lying alone,
And told him that quickly away he must flee,
Or else the three crawens would make him to dee.
God grant that each lambkin that is in our flock
Be told of his danger as he lies by the rock.