Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/257

 Early American Ballads. 245

The Sartinty of Deth.

22. see, the vain race of mortal man are but an empty shoe,

like bubbels on the water stan and soon two nothing goo.

23. when wee are well, alass, our breth is easy took away,

ten thousand ways a mortal deth can turn our flesh to clay.

24. the old and young, both high and low, must yeald their mortal breth,

when is the time wee due not know, but all must suffer deth.

25. to conker deth if wee contrive, it is in vain to try,

for suarly as wee are alive, soo suarly wee must die. Finis. November ve 20, 1773.

" This is verbatim, but I have slightly punctuated the verses. In the twentieth verse, one is to be pronounced own, while some words are almost puns in their effect."

The rhymes on the death of the child are of a literary character, having been produced with the pen, and designed for reading. But in the early part of the century there were in circulation in New England many ballads more nearly representing a true traditional literature, circulating by word of mouth, and current in different versions. To this class belongs the following narrative, apparently of English origin : —

The Lancaster Maid.

Oh Betsey ! Betsey ! beauty fair ! Had lately come from Lancastair, A servant maid let herself to be, She was fitting for a more high degree.

The old lady had an only son, And Betsey had his favor won ; Saying, " Betsey, I love thee as my life, And I do intend to make thee my wife."

In the very next chamber the old lady lay, And heard what her son to Betsey did say,

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