Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/271

Rh 'Can you tell me if any here be

Who'll give to me employ,

To plough and sow, and reap and mow,

And be a farmer's boy? '

Chorus—To plough and sow, &c.

"'My father's dead, my mother's left

With her five children small,

And, what is worse for my mother still,

I'm the largest of them all.

Though little I be, I fear not work.

If you will me employ.

To plough and sow, to reap and mow.

And be a farmer's boy.

Chorus—To plough and sow, &c.

"'And if you cannot me employ,

One favour I've to ask.

If you'll shelter me 'till the break of day

From this cold winter's blast.

At the break of day I'll trudge away,

Elsewhere to seek employ,

To plough and sow, to reap and mow,

And be a farmer's boy.'

Chorus—To plough and sow, &c.

"The farmer said, 'We'll try the lad,

No further he shall seek.'

'O, yes, dear father,' the daughter cried,

Whilst the tears ran down her cheek.

For one that will work it's hard to want,

Or wander for employ.

To plough and sow, to reap and mow.

And be a farmer's boy.'

Chorus— To plough and sow, &c.

"In length of time he grew a man;

The good old farmer died.

And left the lad the farm he had.

And his daughter for his bride.

The lad that was the farmer is;

He smiles and thinks with joy,

Of the lucky day he came that way

To be the farmer's boy.

Chorus— To plough and sow," &c.