Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/36

28 unrecorded over Virginia foot hills. It lives in the air and the ear alone, as indeed it always has from that far time when some crude singer first gave it to our ancestry. With all its imperfections, we ought to be glad to make its acquaintance in type, for we shall never greet an older friend among living things.

WILSON.

Wilson, sitting in his room one day, With his true love on his knee, Just as happy as happy could be, be, be, Just as happy as happy could be.

Do you want for fee?" said she, "Or do you want for gold? Or do you want a handsome ladye, More handsomer than me?"

I do want for fee," said he, "And I do want for gold; But I don't want a handsomer ladye, More handsomer than thee."

Go get some of your father's fee, And some of your father's gold, And two of the finest horses he has, And married we will be, be, be, And married we will be."

She mounted on the milk-white steed, And he the iron grey; And when they got to the broad waterside, It was six hours and a-half till day.

Get down, get down, my pretty fair maid, Get down, get down!" said he; For its nine of the king's daughters I've drowned here, And the tenth one you shall be, be, be, And the tenth one you shall be."

Take off, take off that costly silk, For it is a costly thing, It cost your father too much bright gold To drown your fair body in, in, in, To drown your fair body in."