Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/461

 Modern Russian Popzilar Songs. 437

he has made, and in the event of the father's refusal to agree with him in his choice threatens to refuse to work : — " Come now, father, father of mine, Let's sit down and talk it over : Arrange my marriage with the one I love, And, if you will not do this, I shall no longer do your ploughing, Nor help you stack the hay. Nor do the mowing in your meadow." The young girl who has been betrothed by her parents during her absence, protests emphatically against what they have done : —

" I was away paying a visit. And without my knowledge you betrothed me, When I came home I stamped my foot at mother Saying, what, mother, do you think you're doing, You are not marrying me to the one I love." In another song the young girl stands up for the choice of her heart in spite of the threats of the mother to beat her : — " My mother gave me a scolding, And even thought of beating me. But I had fallen in love with him, It will not be as mother planned." Now often the parents themselves give way to the child- ren, taking into account their choice and sympathies: — " My mother is really gold, Though she is half lead, She will not force me to marry. Tells me to choose whom I will."

Remembering her own girlhood, one mother says to her daughter : —

" Daughter, go and play till midnight,

I was once just such a girl,

I was once just such a girl.

And used to play till midnight." Nevertheless there are many diastiishki in which the parents