The Wise Farmer- Gainer (WV) pre1975 Gainer
[This version is attributed by Patrick to his grandfather, F.C. Gainer. He does not mention the 1925 version also attributed from his grandfather. Both versions are suspect.
From Folk-Songs of the Southern United States 1925:
[Selling the Cow] The Crafty Farmer [89]
(Child No. P83)
(Laws L1)
Known by the title "selling the cow," a secondary form of the child ballad. In the New World the farmer or miller is riplaced by a young South Carolina Negro, and the rent of the farm by a cow. The action takes place in Staunton, Virginia. Contributed by F. C. Gainer, Gilmer Co., West Virginia.
In Staunton there did dwell
A merchant by trade;
He had two niggers,
A man and a maid.
A South Carolina boy
He had for his man,
And for to do his business,
His name it was Fran.
Selling the Cow" was contributed by Gainer's collecting friend Carey Woofter when they were students at the University of West Virginia.
R. Matteson 2013]
THE WISE FARMER
(CHILD 293, "THE CRAFTY FARMER")
One version of this ballad, printed by Cox in 1925, was contributed in 1916. Apparently no tune was recovered. My grandfather Gainer sang this ballad.
1. A farmer was riding alone,
Riding along the highway,
A robber stepped out in the road,
And thus to him did say.
2 "Old man, you should not ride alone,
For there are thieves a many,
They'll rob from you all that you have,
And not leave you a penny."
3 "If they should stop me on the road,
I'm sure they'll not get any,
For I've hidden it in my saddle bags,
It's safe there every penny."
4 The robber said, "I'll take it now,
Your money, Sir, I'll take it."
The farmer took the saddle bags
And threw them over the hill.
5 When the robber got down off his horse,
After the bags to scurry,
The farmer took the robber's horse
And rode off in a hurry.
6 When he opened the robber's bag,
There was wealth a plenty,
For he found a hundred pounds of gold,
And silver ten times twenty.