The Brown Girl- Fore (Mo.) c. 1870 Belden D
[From: Old-Country Ballads in Missouri, I by H. M. Belden; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 19, No. 74 (Jul. - Sep., 1906), pp. 231-240. Reprinted in Ballads and Songs, 1940.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
CHILD 73. - Lord Thomas and Fair Annet.
D. THE BROWN GIRL
(d) From a MS. collection of " song-ballads" compiled by a school-teacher in Gentry County in the '70's and contributed to this collection by Mr. Harry Fore.
"Come mother, come mother, come riddle your sport,
Come riddle [your sport] as one,
Whether I shall marry fair Ellender
Or bring the brown girl home."
"The brown girl she has house and land,
Fair Ellender she has none;
Therefore I charge you with my blessing
Go bring the brown girl home."
"Go saddle up my milk-white steed,
My clothing bring to me,
That I may go and invite fair Ellender
To come to my wedding day."
" He rode up to fair Ellender's door
And rattled at the ring;
There could be none so ready as she
To rise and let him in.
"Oh, what is the matter my own true love,
What can the matter be ? "
"Oh, I 've come to invite you to my wedding:
Aint that sad news to thee ?"
'" Come mother, come mother, come riddle your sport,
Come riddle your sport as one;
Whether I shall go to Sir Thomas's
(MS. incomplete.)