The Two Brothers- Brewster (IN) 1935 Brewster B
Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana
THE TWO BROTHERS (Child, No. 49)
Two texts of "The Two Brothers" have been recovered in this state. Both are most closely related to Child B. However, the "Chestner" (Chester) of variant A below does not appear in Child B, occurring only in C. It will be noted that in both variants the stabbing is intentional. The love affair and the resultant jealousy between the brothers appear in neither.
For American texts, see Barry, No. 33; Campbell and Sharp, No. 11; Cox, No. 7; Hudson, No. 7; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 73; Journal, XXVI, 361; XXVIII, 300; XXIX, 158 (a text from Indiana); XXX, 294; McGill, p. 55; Pound, Ballads, No. 18; Shearin, p. 4; Shearin and Combs, p. 7; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 166; Cox, Traditional Ballads, p. 15; BFSSNE, V, 6 (Vermont)
B. "The Two Brothers.' Contributed by Mrs. Nancy E. Brewster, of Oakland City, Indiana. Gibson County. March 8, 1935.
1. Two little schoolmates going to school,
What pretty schoolmates are they!
If we were only along with them,
What pretty schoolmates we'd be!
2. "Oh, Brother, can you roll the stone,
Or can you throw the ball?"
"I am too little; I am too young;
I cannot play at all."
3. He caught him by the coat collar
And bore him to the ground;
Then out he took a little sword
And gave him a deadly wound.
4. "Oh, Brother, take me on your back
And carry me to the churchyard,
And there dig me a little grave
Both wide and deep . . . ."
5. "Bury my Bible at my head,
My satchel at my feet,
My little bow and arrows at my side
When I am sound asleep."
6. "What will you tell your dear mamma
When you go home in the morning?"
"I'll tell her that poor John is dead,
Never to return."
7. "What will you tell your dear papa
When he comes home in the evening?"
"I'll set my foot on yonder ship
And sail away to sea."