'Twas on a Cold & Winter Day- Borusky (WI) 1938
[From: Kentucky Folksong in Northern Wisconsin by Asher E. Treat; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 52, No. 203 (Jan. - Mar., 1939), pp. 1-51
See also: Peters, Folk Songs Out of Wisconsin (1977) pp. 198-199; Performer Borusky, Pearl Jacobs; Place collected USA : Wisconsin: Pearson; Collector Stratman-Thomas, Helene. From a 1938 recording, LC/AAFS rec. no. 4987. Bronson (No. 9) compares the two versions, the JAF (1939) and the recording (1938).
This is a version of the "Water Birch" variants, see: "Water Birch": An American Variant of "Hugh of Lincoln" by Frances C. Stamper and Wm. Hugh Jansen; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 71, No. 279 (Jan. - Mar., 1958), pp. 16-22. It's categorized by McCabe as part of the School Group (II.ii).
R. Matteson 2013, 2015]
45. 'TWAS ON A COLD AND WINTER DAY
Sung by Pearl Jacobs Borusky, July 15, 1938. Cf. Sharp, Sir Hugh. The A flats were sung a trifle high. Mrs. Jacobs learned this song from William Hagerman of West Virginia.
1. Twas on a cold and winter- day,
The children had all gone to school[1]
They were all a-playing ball,
And dancing all around.
2. They knocked it high, and they knocked it dry,
And they knocked it 'gainst the Jew's castle wall.
"Go in, go in, my little boy Hugh,
Go in and get your ball."
3. "I mustn't go in, I dassent go in,
My school bell doth me call;
And if my master knew of this
He would surely make my blood fall."
4. Out stepped the Jew's daughter
With apples in her hand.
"Come in, come in, my little boy Hugh,
I will give you one or two."
5. She took him by his little white hand
And led him through the hall.
She led him into a stone wall
Where no one could hear him call.
6. She pierced him with a little penknife
Which was sharp and keen.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
La- la - la- la- la.[2]
7. She wrapped him in a sheet[3] of lead,
One fold or two,
And threw him into a draw well
Which was so[4] cold and deep.
8. The day had fled and night came on;
The children had all gone home,
And every mother had her son,
But little Hugh's mother had none.
9. She broke her a switch all off of a birch
And through the streets she ran.
She ran till she came to the Jew's gate
And the Jews were all asleep.
10. She ran till she came to the draw well
Which was both[5] cold and deep,
Saying, "If you are here, my little boy Hugh,
Speak one word to your mother dear."
11. "O, here I am dear mother!" he cried,
And here I've lain so long,
With a little penknife pierced to my heart,
And the blood is still running strong.
12. "O, take me out of this draw well
And make me a coffin of birch.
O, take me out of this draw-well
And bury me in yonders church."
1. Inexplicably, only the first line is given in JAF, 1939.
2. She cannot remember the last two lines of this stanza- left blank in JAF.
3. shirt, 1938
4. both, 1938
5. so, 1938