Growing- William Aggett (Chag) 1890 B.Gould
[My title, the "Trees" stanza is not present. From: Sabine Baring-Gould Manuscript Collection online. This version has been performed and the text is online in an altered condition at the Mudcat Forum,
R. Matteson 2016]
Growing- collected by Sabine Baring Gould on Sept. 30, 1890 from "William Aggett, aged 70, crippled and infirm, Chagford. Certainly illiterate, an old broken down laborer…”
As I looked over my father's castle wall
I saw four and twenty boys playing at the ball
But O, my pretty lad, he did exceed them all
And my pretty lad is young and he is growing
O father, father dear, if that you think it's fit
We'll send him to the collage for a year or two yet
And spinning I at home we'll sit- sit- sit.
Whilst my pretty lad is young and is growing.
I'll buy my love five shirts of the Holland so fine
And all the time I'm sowing, the tears run down the twine
And I will sit and sing of that sweet love of mine,
Whilst my pretty lad is young and is growing
I'll cast my yellow hair away by the root
And I will clothe myself all in a school boy's suit
And to the college, I will go a-foot
Whilst my pretty lad so young still is growing
At the age of fourteen he was a married man
At the age of fifteen he had a little son
At the age of sixteen his thread of life was done
So my pretty lad so young had ceased growing.