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364 Indiana University Publications, Folklore Series
in the background a negro was running as if terribly scared, looking back over his shoulder the white in his eyes showing. Father said my greatgrandfather placed it on his mantel board and it stayed there as long as the old man lived. Father never knew what did become of it. I suppose they were glad to destroy it. . . . How strange that after a hundred years there are those that are trying to get those old ballads and that Old Whitecotton would ever be heard of! I can't think of anyone living now who could tell you anything of him; they are all gone. ... I have written this just because I want to and because you understand." (Mrs. Ada Fenley, Greensburg, Decatur County. This letter is dated June 10, 1925, at which time Mrs. Fenley was seventy years old.)
"I saw in your column a letter from Ada Fenley in reguard to the ballad of 'Fuller and Warren.' I am a great-granddaughter of the author and his name was Moses Whitecotton; he composed that ballad and also put the music to it and lots of other songs and poetry and he was also an artist. We had so many of his pieces, but they got destroyed in a fire. There is a verse or two we have forgotten of 'Fuller and Warren.' We would be very glad to get them through the Star or direct to me, and anything else concerning him we would be very thankful to receive." (Mrs. Cynthia Rice, 428 East Pearl St., Lebanon, Indiana. This letter is dated June 16, 1925.)
For other texts, see Cox, p. 217; Lomax, p. 126; Pound, No. 49; Belden, No. 16 (cf. Journal, XXV, 12, and Modern Philology, II, 574). The incident upon which the song is based has been thoroughly treated by Mr. Phillips Barry in Bulletin No. 9 of the Folk-Song Society of the Northeast.
"Warren and Fuller." Sent in by Mrs. T. M. Bryant, of Evansville, Indiana. Vanderburg County. "This was an actual occurrence in the recollection of my grandfather." November 22, 1935.
1. Ye sons of Columbia, your attention I crave
Whilst a sorrowful ditty I do tell Which has happened here of late in the Indiana state, Of a hero whom none did excel.
2. Like Samson he courted and made choice of the fair,
And intended to make her his wife, But she, like Delilah, when she did his heart ensnare, 0 she cost him his honor and his life.
3. A golden ring he gave her in token of his love;
On the ring was an image of a dove; They mutually agreed to get married in speed,
And was promised by the powers up above. |
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