The Murdering Sweetheart- Ammons (WV) c.1952
[From West Virginia Folklore 2:2 (Jan 1952) pp. 16-17. Taken from the notebook of W.A. Ammons by Estelle T. Ammons. The title makes no sense unless it's changed: "The Murdering [of the] Sweetheart" or "The Murdered Sweetheart."
R. Matteson 2016]
The Murdering Sweetheart (Bramble Briar) from the notebook of W.A. Ammons, pre1952.
1. A rich man lived near New Bridgewater
He had two sons, a daughter fair,
From life to death he did believe [bereave] them,
To crown his children hence with care.
2. A servant by bound to their father's intention [indenture],
All to please[sail] this raging man [main],
For he was of a fair complexion,
Neat and handsome in every limb.
3. On him our sister placed her affections,
Unbeknownst to any of them;
She told her secret to her younger brother
Chanced to see them sport and play.
4. May he be of some low family,
He thinks our sister he will have;
But we'll put an end to all their courtship;
We'll quietly send him to his grave."
5. Now to commence this dreadful murder
A game of hunting we will go.
And then they both began to whisper,
"A game of hunting we will go."
6. When they came back their sister asked them,
'What have you done with the servant man?"
"We lost him in our game of hunting,
No more of him you never will see."
7. She arose so early the next morning,
And wandered away to some far land,
Until she came to the greenberry briar,
And there his poor, cold body she found.
8. The blood on his face was cold and drying,
And his tears was salt as brine,
She kissed him more than ten times over,
Saying, "Oh, this bosom friend of mine!"
9. "Maybe you think I'll hide this murder,
But I will do no such thing,
For you have robbed me of my lover,
Alone for him you both shall swing."
10. And now they are confined in prison
And now they are condemned to die
Whilst she lies down in her chamber mourning
Giving up herself to die.