Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/464

 1 1 6 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

B.

" O, where have you been, my dear little one ?

O, where have you been, my dear little son ? " " To visit my grandma, mother, make my bed soon,

For I 'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down."

" What did you have for supper," etc. " Speckled eels and fresh butter," etc.

" What will you will to your brother," etc. " Coat, jacket, and trousers,"

" What will you will to your father ? " etc. " Horse, saddle, and bridle," etc.

" What will you will to your grandmother, my dear little one ?

What will you will to your grandmother, my dear little son ? " " The torments eternal ; mother, make my bed soon,

For I 'm sick to my heart, and fain would lie down." 1

C.

" Mother, make my bed soon, For I feel a pain in my heart, and I fain would lie down."

" What will you leave to your father, dear lord duke ? "

" Four horses and a carriage, mother, make my bed soon," etc.

" What will you leave to your mother," etc. " Three horses and a carriage," etc.

" What will you leave to your brother," etc. " Three horses and a carriage," etc.

"What will you leave to your sister," etc. " My gold and silver," etc.

" What will you leave to your true love," etc " A rope to hang her with," etc.

"What was it she gave you, young Henry, my son ?" " Three little freckled fishes, mother, make my bed soon, For I 'm sick at my heart, and I fain would lie down." 2

D.

With these versions may be compared a Scotch variant, obtained in America, but the history of which I am not now able to explain :

1 Related to Mrs. Bergen by Mrs. Amanda M. Thrush, now of Plymouth, Ohio, as heard in her girlhood in northern New York.

2 Contributed by Mrs. Bergen, from the recitation of Mary Brown, Miramichi, N. B.

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