{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch079.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch079.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch079.htm","text":"79A.1 THERE lived a wife at Usher\u2019s Well,\nAnd a wealthy wife was she;\nShe had three stout and stalwart sons,\nAnd sent them oer the sea.\n79A.2 They hadna been a week from her,\nA week but barely ane,\nWhan word came to the carline wife\nThat her three sons were gane.\n79A.3 They hadna been a week from her,\nA week but barely three,\nWhan word came to the carlin wife\nThat her sons she\u2019d never see.\n79A.4 \u2018I wish the wind may never cease,\nNor fashes in the flood,\nTill my three sons come hame to me,\nIn earthly flesh and blood.\u2019\n79A.5 It fell about the Martinmass,\nWhen nights are lang and mirk,\nThe carlin wife\u2019s three sons came hame,\nAnd their hats were o the birk.\n79A.6 It neither grew in syke nor ditch,\nNor yet in ony sheugh;\nBut at the gates o Paradise,\nThat birk grew fair eneugh.\n* * * * *\n79A.7 \u2018Blow up the fire, my maidens,\nBring water from the well;\nFor a\u2019 my house shall feast this night,\nSince my three sons are well.\u2019\n79A.8 And she has made to them a bed,\nShe\u2019s made it large and wide,\nAnd she\u2019s taen her mantle her about,\nSat down at the bed-side.\n* * * * *\n79A.9 Up then crew the red, red cock,\nAnd up and crew the gray;\nThe eldest to the youngest said,\n\u2019Tis time we were away.\n79A.10 The cock he hadna crawd but once,\nAnd clappd his wings at a\u2019,\nWhen the youngest to the eldest said,\nBrother, we must awa.\n79A.11 \u2018The cock doth craw, the day doth daw,\nThe channerin worm doth chide;\nGin we be mist out o our place,\nA sair pain we maun bide.\n79A.12 \u2018Fare ye weel, my mother dear!\nFareweel to barn and byre!\nAnd fare ye weel, the bonny lass\nFareweel to barn and byre!\nAnd fare ye weel, the bonny lass\nThat kindles my mother\u2019s fire!\u2019\n79B: The Wife of Usher\u2019s Well\n79B.1 THE hallow day o Yule are come,\nThe nights are lang an dark,\nAn in an cam her ain twa sons,\nWi their hats made o the bark.\n79B.2 \u2018O eat an drink, my merry men a\u2019,\nThe better shall ye fare,\nFor my twa sons the are come hame\nTo me for evermair.\u2019\n79B.3 She has gaen an made their bed,\nAn she\u2019s made it saft an fine,\nAn she\u2019s happit them wi her gay mantel,\nBecause they were her ain.\n79B.4 O the young cock crew i the merry Linkeum,\nAn the wild fowl chirpd for day;\nThe aulder to the younger did say,\nDear brother, we maun away.\n79B.5 \u2018Lie still, lie still a little wee while,\nLie still but if we may;\nFor gin my mother miss us away\nShe\u2019ll gae mad or it be day.\u2019\n79B.6 O it\u2019s they\u2019ve taen up their mother\u2019s mantel,\nAn they\u2019ve hangd it on the pin:\n\u2018O lang may ye hing, my mother\u2019s mantel,\nOr ye hap us again!\u2019\n79[C]: The Wife of Usher\u2019s Well\n79[C].1 There was a widow-woman lived in far Scotland,\nAnd in far Scotland she did live,\nAnd all her cry was upon sweet Jesus,\nSweet Jesus so meek and mild.\n79[C.2] Then Jesus arose one morning quite soon,\nAnd arose one morning betime,\nAnd away he went to far Scotland,\nAnd to see what the good woman want.\n79[C.3] And when he came to far Scotland,\n. . . . . . .\nCrying, What, O what, does the good woman want,\nThat is calling so much on me?\n79[C.4] \u2018It\u2019s you go rise up my three sons,\nTheir names, Joe, Peter, and John,\nAnd put breath in their breast,\nAnd clothing on their backs,\nAnd immediately send them to far Scotland,\nThat their mother may take some rest.\u2019\n79[C.5] Then he went and rose up her three sons,\nTheir names, Joe, Peter, and John,\nAnd did immediately send them to far Scotland,\nThat their mother may take some rest.\n79[C.6] Then she made up a supper so neat,\nAs small, as small, as a yew-tree leaf,\nBut never one bit they could eat.\n79[C.7] Then she made up a bed so soft,\nThe softest that ever was seen,\nAnd the widow-woman and her three sons\nThey went to bed to sleep.\n79[C.8] There they lay; about the middle of the night,\nBespeaks the youngest son:\n\u2018The white cock he has crowed once,\nThe second has, so has the red.\u2019\n79[C.9] And then bespeaks the eldest son:\n\u2018I think, I think it is high time\nFor the wicked to part from their dead.\u2019\n79[C.10] Then they laid [ led] her along a green road,\nThe greenest that ever was seen,\nUntil they came to some far chaperine,\nWhich was builded of lime and sand;\nUntil they came to some far chaperine,\nWhich was builded with lime and stone.\n79[C.11] And then he opened the door so big,\nAnd the door so very wide;\nSaid he to her three sons, Walk in!\nBut told her to stay outside.\n79[C.12] \u2018Go back, go back!\u2019 sweet Jesus replied,\n\u2018Go back, go back!\u2019 says he;\n\u2018For thou hast nine days to repent\nFor the wickedness that thou hast done.\u2019\n79[C.13] Nine days then was past and gone,\nAnd nine days then was spent,\nSweet Jesus called her once again,\nAnd took her to heaven with him.","title":"The Child Ballads: 79. The Wife of Usher's Well","type":"page"}