The Suffolk Miracle- Smith (DC-VT) 1957 Flanders C
[Generic title kept- an alternate title could be "Kerchief White." From Flanders Ancient Ballads IV, 1965. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2013]
C. "The Suffolk Miracle" as sung by Franklin Smith, father of Herbert Wilson Smith, a mining engineer in Washington, D. C., whose relatives, Mr. and Mrs. F. E, Hartwell of Bolton, Vermont, sing his father's tunes. The songs, which the father wrote down from memory, had little inked crosses for period's, in the old, manner. He also wrote in parentheses different ways in which he remembered the songs. Copied literatim et punctatim. H. H. F., Collector August 7, 1957. No Title.
In old York town there once did dwell,
A fair young lady straight and tall.
The lads they came from near and far (far and wide)
They came to court her one and all.
They came with sighs and pretty words
But she had eyes for only one,
To win her favor and her love
He was the wealthy squires son.
When her father came to know her wish
He sent her far from home
Three hundred miles or more she went
With broken heart alone.
The young man sighed he mourned he wept
And very soon the young man died,
And he had been a twelve month dead
When he drew by the fair maids side.
"I've ridden far on this white steed
To be here at your side
I've brought to you your mother's cloak
And back with me you'll ride."
"Your father's steed your mother's cloak
Round my eyes your kerchief white
Take your postillion place with me
We'll ride all through the night."
They rode all night until the clay
And came then to her father's door
"Now I will put this white steed away,"
But him she never saw no more.
"You're welcome home here," father said
How came you to be here?"
"You sent to me my own true love
The one I hold most dear."
Her father's hair rose on his head
To hear his daughter's words
The squire's son now twelve month dead
And laying in his shroud.
To young and old to great and small
The father then did say,
"Let not your pride bring on your fall,
In Love let young love have its way."