་ The carrion crow he began for to rave, Heigho! the carrion crow. 'Wife, go fetch me my arrow and my bow, I'll have a shot at that carrion crow.' Heigho! the carrion crow. The tailor he shot, and he missed his mark, 'Wife, go fetch me some treacle in a spoon, The old sow died, and the bells they did toll, 'Never mind,' said the tailor, 'I don't care a flea, There'll be still black-puddings, souse, and chitterlings Heigho! the carrion crow. [for me.' THE LEATHERN BOTTEL. SOMERSETSHIRE VERSION. [IN Chappell's Popular Music is a much longer version of The Leathern Bottèl. The following copy is the one sung at the present time by the country-people in the county of Somerset. It has been communicated to our pages by Mr. Sandys.] GOD above, who rules all things, Monks and abbots, and beggars and kings, The ships that in the sea do swim, And everything else in the world beside: Oh! what do you say to the glasses fine? And sheds the liquor so fine and gay; But had it been in the leathern bottel, And the stopper been in, 'twould all have been well! Oh! what do you say to the tankard fine? And such things happen sometimes, no doubt,—— But had it been in the leathern bottèl, And the stopper been in, 'twould all have been well! Now, when this bottèl it is worn out, Out of its sides you may cut a clout; For young beginners have need of such friends. THE FARMER'S OLD WIFE. A SUSSEX WHISTLING SONG. [THIS is a countryman's whistling song, and the only one of the kind which we remember to have heard. It is very ancient, and a great favourite. The farmer's wife has an adventure somewhat resembling the hero's in the burlesque version of Don Giovanni. The tune is Lilli burlero, and the song is sung as follows:-the first line of each verse is given as a solo; then the tune is continued by a chorus of whistlers, who whistle that portion of the air which in Lilli burlero would be sung to the words, Lilli burlero bullen a la. The songster then proceeds with the tune, and sings the whole of the verse through, after which the strain is re sumed and concluded by the whistlers. The effect, when accompanied by the strong whistles of a group of lusty countrymen, is very striking, and cannot be adequately conveyed by description. This song constitutes the 'traditionary verses' upon which Burns founded his Carle of Killyburn Braes.] THERE HERE was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell, There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell, [Chorus of whistlers.] Then Satan came to the old man at the plough,— 'It is not your eldest son that I crave, Now Satan has got the old wife on his back, He trudged away till they came to his hall-gate, up with her pattens, and beat out their brains. Now he's bundled her up on his back amain, 'I have been a tormenter the whole of my life, OLD WICHET AND HIS WIFE. [THIS song still retains its popularity in the North of England, and, when sung with humour, never fails to elicit roars of laughter. A Scotch version may be found in Herd's Collection, 1769, and also in Cunningham's Songs of England and Scotland, London, 1835. We cannot venture to give an opinion as to which is the original; but the English set is of unquestionable antiquity. Our copy was obtained from Yorkshire. It has been collated with one printed at the Aldermary press, and preserved in the third volume of the Roxburgh Collection. The tune is peculiar to the song.] I went into the stable, and there for to see,* And there I saw three horses stand, by one, by two, and by three; [quoth she; O! I called to my loving wife, and 'Anon, kind sir!' 'O! what do these three horses here, without the leave of me?' Why, you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see, These are three milking cows my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! milking cows with saddles on! The like was never known!' [home! Old Wichet a cuckold went out, and a cuckold he came O! I went into the kitchen, and there for to see, And there I saw three swords hang, by one, by two, [quoth she O! I called to my loving wife, and 'Anon, kind sir!' 'O! what do these three swords do here, without the and by three; leave of me?' 'Why, you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see, These are three roasting spits my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! roasting spits with scabbards on! The like was never known!' [home! Old Wichet a cuckold went out, and a cuckold he came This line is sometimes sung O! I went into the stable, to see what I could see. O! I went into the parlour, and there for to see, And there I saw three cloaks hang, by one, by two, and by three; [quoth she; O! I called to my loving wife, and 'Anon, kind sir!' 'O! what do these three cloaks do here, without the leave of me?' 'Why, you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see, These are three mantuas my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! mantuas with capes on! The like was never known!' [home! Old Wichet a cuckold went out, and a cuckold he came O! I went into the pantry, and there for to see, and by three; [quoth she O! I called to my loving wife, and 'Anon, kind sir !' 'O! what do these three pair of boots here, without the leave of me?' Why, you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see, These are three pudding-bags my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! pudding-bags with spurs on! The like was never known!' [home! Old Wichet a cuckold went out, and a cuckold he came by three; O! I went into the dairy, and there for to see, And there I saw three hats hang, by one, by two, and [quoth she; O! I called to my loving wife, and 'Anon, kind sir!' 'Pray what do these three hats here, without the leave of me?' . Why, old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see, you These are three skimming-dishes my mother sent to me?' Ods bobs! well done! skimming-dishes with hat bands on! The like was never known!' [home! Old Wichet a cuckold went out, and a cuckold he came * Three cabbage-nets, according to some versions. |