171. Over the Hills to the Poor-House


171

Over the Hills to the Poor-House

Not the same thing as Will Carleton's poem of a like title, nor as
the piece reported from Missouri (BSM 280-1); but it is to be
found in Dean's Flying Cloud (121-2), and was printed as a broad-
side by Wehman of New York in the nineteenth century. It is
listed also in Miss Pound's syllabus. The text in the North Caro-
lina collection comes from O. L. Coffey of ShuH's Mills, Watauga
county, reported in 1939.

 

OLDER BALLADS — MOSTLY BRITISH 435

I Oh. yes, it is true they have driven
Their father so helpless and old ;
Oh, God ! may their crime he forgiven
h^or driving him out in the cold.
Oh, heaven! I'm saddened and weary.
See the tears how they course down my cheeks.
Oh, this world is lonely and dreary,
And my heart for relief vainly seeks.

Chorus:

For I'm old, and I'm helpless and feeble.
And the days of my youth have gone by ;
And over the hills to the poor-house
They are sending me alone there to die.

2 Ah me ! on that old door-step yonder
I've sat with my babes on my knee.
No father was happier or fonder
Than I with my little ones three.
The boys both so rosy and chubby.
And the darling little girl so sweet,

God knows how their father has loved them ;
But they have driven him out in the street.

3 It's long years since Mary was taken.
My faithful affectionate wife.

Since then I'm forlorn and forsaken
And the light has died out of my life.
When the boys grew up to manhood
I gave them a deed for the farm and more.
I gave them the house they were born in ;
And they turned me out from its door.

4 Oh, children, will you yet hear me?

I have journeyed along on life's stage

With the hope that you all would l)e with me

To comfort and cheer my old age.

My life-blood I'd gladly have given

To shield and j^rotect you from harm ;

Though my heart breaks. I'll say it :

You've driven me out here to die in the storm.

5 But perhaps they'll live happier without me.
Farewell, dear old home, oh. farewell :

For over the hills to the poor-house
I am forced to go there to dwell.