Maize Magic in American Folklore 275 



dust he refuses to stir. It was Mag who recited for me the 

 ballad of "The Lazy Man." She explained that "rightly, hit 

 oughter be sung." And that the tune to it "was real pretty. 

 Folks useter dance to it when I was a gal." It goes this way. 



Come all my good people, and listen to my song. 



I'll sing you of a lazy man that wouldn't tend his corn. 

 The reason why I cannot tell, 



For this young man was always well. 



He went to the fence and he peeked therein 

 The chinkey-pin bush was as high as his chin, 



The weeds and the grass they grew so high 

 They made this poor young man to cry. 



In July his corn was almost knee-high 



Come September, he laid it by. 

 And in October there came a big frost 



And all this young man's corn was lost. 



He went to his nearest neighbor's house, 



A-courting, as you may suppose, 

 And in conversation the question came round; 



Says she; "Young man, have you hoed your corn?" 



The young man made a quick reply; 



"Oh no," says he, "for I've laid it by, 

 It ain't no use to strive and strive in vain, 



For I can't raise a single grain." 



"Oh, then, kind sir, why do you wish to wed, 

 When you can't raise your own corn bread? 



Single I am, and single I'll remain, 

 The lazy man I never will maintain." 



There are people in the valley who say that Mag Six can hex. 

 "Never heerd me say as I couldn't," she cackles. I have noticed 

 that she invariably draws a five-pointed star across her big 



