Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/455

 Early American Ballads. 107

The chunk was thirty feat in length and was exceeding dry, so rotten it had not much strength did burn most vemantly.

It has been assumed that the rhymes to which this latter verse belongs were designed for reading rather than oral recitation ; but the popularity of those presently to be cited may alter this view.

Springfield Mountain.

��It has been pointed out to me that the original version of this ballad is to be found in the " History of Western Massachusetts," by Josiah Gilbert Holland, Springfield, 1855. In an account of Wil- braham, to which town the song seems to belong, Dr. Holland re- marks : "On the 7th of August, 1761, occurred an event which has been celebrated in song. It is doubtful whether any piece of Amer- ican doggerel has been so fortunate in the term of its perpetuation. It relates to the death of Timothy Merrick, from the bite of a rattle- snake, and has been added to and modified, until the versions of it are numberless. The verses are said to have been written by a young woman to whom the unfortunate man was engaged to be married. A gravestone still marks the spot where he sleeps, but the ballad, of which the following is an authentic copy, preserved in the family, bids fair to outlast the marble."

On Springfield mountains there did dwell A likeley youth was known full well Lieutenant Merrick onley son A likeley youth near twenty one.

One friday morning he did go in to the medow and did mow A round or two then he did feal A pisen serpent at his heal.

When he received his deadly wond he dropt his sythe a pon the ground And strate for home wase his intent Calling aloude still as he went,

tho all around his voys wase hered but none of his friends to him apiere they thought it wase some workmen calld And there poor Timothy alone must fall.

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