The Two Playmates- Bolin (SC) pre1928 Smith
[From Reed Smith's South Carolina Ballads, 1928. This version is much older than 1928.
R. Matteson 2015]
"The Two Playmates," communicated by Mrs. E. L. Bolin of McCormick County, S. C., who as a child learned it from a playmate's grandmother in Spartanburg County.
1. It rained, alas![1] it rained, alas!
It sprinkled all over the town.
Two little boys went out to toss a ball;
To toss a ball.
2. At first they tossed the ball too high;
And then too low;
And then they tossed it into a yard
Where no one was allowed to go.
3. A Jewish Lady came to the door,
All dressed in silk so fine;
"Come in, come in, my pretty little boys, come in."
4. "Oh, no! Oh, no! I can't come in,
Unless my playmate comes too;
For when little boys come in your door
They never come out any more."
5. At first she showed him a bright red apple,
And then a pretty red peach;
And then she showed him a diamond ring,
That called his little heart in.
6. And then she led him to the dining room,
Where no one could hear his cry;
And then she took a carving knife
To carve his little heart in.
7. "Oh spare my life, oh spare my life,"
The little boy cried.
. . . .
. . . .
B. "Well, place a Bible at my head,
And a prayer book at my feet;
And when my playmate calls for me,
Pray tell him that I'm asleep.
9. "And place a prayer book at my feet,
And a Bible at my head;
And when my mother calls for me,
Pray tell her that I am dead."
1. "alas" from "a mist"