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Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana 55
9
THE TWO BROTHERS (Child, No. 49)
Two texts of "The Two Brothers" have been recovered in this state. Both are most closely related to Child B. However, the "Chestner" (Chester) of variant A below does not appear in Child B, occurring only in C. It will be noted that in both variants the stabbing is intentional. The love affair and the resultant jealousy between the brothers appear in neither.
For American texts, see Barry, No. 33; Campbell and Sharp, No. 11; Cox, No. 7; Hudson, No. 7; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 73; Journal, XXVI, 361; XXVIII, 300; XXIX, 158 (a text from Indiana); XXX, 294; McGill, p. 55; Pound, Ballads, No. 18; Shearin, p. 4; Shearin and Combs, p. 7; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 166; Cox, Traditional Ballads, p. 15; BFSSNE, V, 6 (Vermont).
A
"Two Little Schoolmates." Contributed by Mr. A. T. McAllister, of Stendal, Indiana. Pike County. July 7, 1935.
1, Two little schoolmates going to school,
What pretty schoolmates are they! If I were only along with them,
What pretty schoolmates we'd be!
2. "0 Brother, can you roll a stone
Or can you throw a ball ?" "I am too little; I am too young; I cannot play at all"
3, He caught him by the coat collar
And brought him to the ground, And out he drew a little sword And gave him a deadly wound.
4. "0 Brother, take me on your back
And carry me to Chestner's yard; There dig for me a little grave Both wide and deep . . . ." |
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