Our Good Man- Keyes (VT) 1906 Barry; Flanders B
[Title supplied by Barry or the informant was told the title or knew Child's ballads. From: Ancient Ballads; Flanders, 1965. I added the ending of the last part (in blue)- since it was missing.
R. Matteson 2013]
B. Our Good Man (The Old Man)- Recited by Thomas C. Keyes, Newbury, Vermont, as sung by a nurse who at that time was still living at an advanced age in South Ryegate, Vermont. Phillips Barry, Collector. April, 1906.
Our Good Man
The old man came home at night
As tired as he could be,
And found another man's hat
Where his hat ought to be.
"O wife, dearest wife,
How came this to be-
Another man's hat
Where mine ought to be?"
"Oh, you old fool, you blind fool,
Oh, can you never see?
That's nothing but a hood
Your mother sent to mel"
"Oh, miles have I traveled,
Hundreds and thousands more,
But never saw a hood
With stiff brim and crown before!"
The old man came home at night
As tired as he could be,
And found another man's coat
Where his coat ought to be.
"Oh, wife, dearest wife,
How came this to be,
Another man's coat
Where mine ought to be?"
"Oh, you old fool, you blind fool,
Oh, can you never see?
That's nothing but a petticoat
Your mother sent to me!"
"Oh, miles have I traveled,
Hundreds and thousands more,
But never saw a petticoat
With sleeves (buttons) on before!"
In the same way the old wife asserts that a strange horse in the stable is "Nothing but a milking cow." But never saw a "milk cow" with a saddle on before.