The Jewish Lady- Keller (IN) 1916 Tolman JAF
[From: Some Songs Traditional in the United States, p. 165 JAF, Vol. 29, April-June 1916, by Albert Tolman.
R. Matteson 2015]
A. [The Jewish Lady] - This version came through Mrs. Pearl H. Bartholomew from Mrs. Flo Keller, both of Warren, Ind.
1. It rained a mist, it rained a mist,
It rained all over the land;
Till all the boys throughout the town
Went out to toss their ball, ball, ball,
Went out to toss their ball.
2. At first they tossed their ball too high,
And then again too low,
Till over in the Jewish garden it fell,
Where no one was darst to go, go, go,
Where no one was darst to go.
3. Out came a Jewish lady,
All dressed so gay and fine.
"Come in, my pretty little boy," she said,
"And you shall have your ball, ball, ball,
And you shall have your ball."
4. At first she showed him a yellow apple dish, [1]
And a gay gold ring,
And then a cherry as red as blood,
To entice this little boy in, in, in,
To entice this little boy in.
5. She took him by his little white hand,
And led him through the hall,
And then unto a cellar so deep,
Where no one could hear him lament, lament,
Where no one could hear him lament.
6. "If any my playmates should call for me,
You may tell them that I'm asleep;
But if my mother should call for me,
You may tell her that I am dead,
And buried with a prayer-book at my feet,
And a bible at my head, head, head,
And a bible at my head."
1 Or dish apple.