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304 Indiana University Publications, Folklore Series
67 THE SOLDIER'S POOR LITTLE BOY
Five texts of this song have been recovered in Indiana. For other American texts, see Belden's Missouri collection; Cox, p. 275; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 201; Journal, XXXV, 366; Cox, Traditional Ballads, p. 88. Cox thinks that the song may have been modeled upon "The Poor Fisherman's Boy," a version of which is given in Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 200.
A
"The Soldier's Boy." Contributed by Mrs. Dora Ward, of Princeton, Indiana. Gibson County. April 3, 1935.
1. 0 the snow was fastly falling,
And the winds did loudly roar, When a poor little boy quite frozen
Came up to a rich lady's door. He spied her up in her window so high;
It filled his heart with joy, Saying, "For mercy sake, some pity on me take;
I'm a soldier's poor little boy.
2. "My mother died when I was young;
My father went to the wars; And he fought through many a battle so brave
Till he was covered with wounds and scars. And many a mile on his knapsack he took
And carried me with joy, But now I am left quite parentless,
A soldier's poor little boy.
3. "0 the snow is fastly falling,
And the night is coming on, And if you don't protect me
I'll perish before 'tis morn. And then it will grieve your peaceful heart
To think of me when gone; You'll find me next morning dead at your door,
A soldier's poor little boy." |
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