The Kennebec Bite- Douglass (NY) c.1841 Thompson
[This early US version, dating betweem 1841-1856, was first published in "Body, Boots, & Britches: Folktales, Ballads, and Speech" by Harold William Thompson in 1940. Later it was reprinted in A Pioneer Songster: TEXTS FROM THE STEVENS-DOUGLASS MANUSCRIPT OF WESTERN NEW YORK 1841-1856 edited by HAROLD W. THOMPSON 1958.
Text is taken unedited except for additions in [brackets]. I suspect the title should be "Kennebeck Bite"
R. Matteson 2013]
6. The Kennebec Bite [Child, 283]
"The Kennebec Bite," with its title varying according to locality, seems to be a parallel of the Child ballad. The printed record of "The Yorkshire Bite" began between 1769 and 1788, whereas that of Child's "The Crafty Farmer" dates from 1796.
Both Green Mountain and Sandburg have a stanza between Douglass stanzas 6 and 7 giving the highwayman's invitation to
ride and John's acceptance. This stanza helps to carry the story along clearly, and its conversation adds to the vitality of the ballad. Two of the Douglass stanzas, 11 and 12, are not in either Green Mountain or Sandburg. There are tunes in Flanders, Green Mountain, and Sandburg to which the stanzas may be sung, though the refrains are of different length.
The Kennebeck Bite
1. Near Boston there lived a mason by trade
He had for his servants a man and a maid
A Kennebeck boy he had for his man
And for to do his work his name it was John
Ral de dal lal lal de da
2. Twas early one morning he caled to John
John hearing his master he quickly did come
Go take that cow and drive her to fair
For She's in good order and all I have to spare
ral de dal
3. John takes the cow out of the barn
And drives her to the fair as you shall learn
In a little time he met with a man
And sold him the cow for a six pound ten
4. He steped to the tavern to take him a drink
T'was there the old merchant he paid him all his chink
He steped to the landlady and unto her did say
What shall I do with my money I do pray
5. Sew it up in your coat lining i think it the best way
For fear that you be robed all on the highway
There sets a highwayman a drinking of his wine
He says to himself that money is all mine
6. In a little time John started for to go
The hiwayman folowed after all so
In a little time he over takes John
You are welcome over taken says he young man
7. They rode till they came to a long dark lane
The hiwayman says i will tell you in plain
Deliver up your money with out fear or strife
Orhear i will end your sweet precious life
8. John seeing now no time to dispute
He jumped off the horse with out fear or doubt
And from the coat lining he pulled the money out
And among the tall grass he strewed it all about
9. The hiwayman comeing down from his horse
But little did he think it would be to his loss
Whilst he was picking the money that was strewd
John jumped upon the horse and away did ride
10. The hiwayman called to John forto stop
But little did he mind but away he did trot
Home to his master and thus he did bring
A horse and a saddle and many a fine thing
11. The maid steped to the door to see John return
She went to quaint her master that was in the other room
He steped to the door and says to him thus
The devil has my cow turned into a horse
12. Oh no your cow I very well sold
But robed on the way by a hiwayman bold
And whilst he was putting your money in his purse
To make your amends i came off with his horse
13. The bags were taken off and out of them were told
Five hundred pounds in silver and in gold
Besides a pair of pistols he says jack i vow
I think my good old master i very well sold [your cow]
14. As for a lad you have done very wrath [rare]
Three quarters of the money you shall have for your share
As for the villain you served him just rite
I think you tucked upon him a Kenebec bite