The Constant Farmer's Son- (NY) 1951 NYFQ 7

The Constant Farmer's Son- (NY) 1951 NYFQ 7

[From: New York Folklore Quarterly - Volume 7 - Page 70, 1951. I don't have this issue therefore I'm missing the informant's info.

R. Matteson 2016]


Another sad story of a farmer's daughter is "The Constant Farmer's Son":

It was of a rich farmer in Monahan [Monaghan?] town did dwell—
She was modest, tall and handsome, and her parents loved her well,
She was admired by dukes and squires, but all their hopes in vain —
There was but one, a farmer's son, young Mary's heart did gain.

Long time young Willy courted her and appointed a wedding day;
Her parents they gave their consent, but her brothers they did say,
 "There is a lord that pledged his word, and him you cannot shun,
For we'll waylay and we'll betray your constant farmer's son.

And sports bein' held not far from there, the brothers went straightway
And asked young Willy's company with them to spend the day.
The day bein' gone, the night came on; they said his course was run,
And with a stake the life did take of the constant farmer's son.

Mary arose, put on her clothes, and to seek her love she ran,
But dead and cold she did behold her constant farmer's son.

The tears ran down her rosy cheeks, all mingled with his gore,
And to relieve her troubled breast she kissed him o'er and o'er.
She plucked the green leaves from the trees to shade him from the sun,
And both night and day she passed away with her constant farmer's son.

Up spoke the oldest brother and said, "It was not I."
The same replied the younger one and most bitterly did cry.
Then up spoke young Mary, "Don't try the law to shun;
You have done the deed and you must bleed for my constant farmer's son.