OLD COUNTRY FOLK 247 



doubt rounded up so as to hide and enclose the bolt that 

 holds the top loop. The iron rod passes right down, and 

 is widened to form the bluntly-pointed tip. 



The old ploughman's song is still sung in a neighbour- 

 ing village, where it has a local record of quite a hundred 

 years. But its age is written in its wording, as may be 

 seen by the now obsolete use of the word ' painful/ which 

 formerly meant industrious or laborious. It was written 

 out by the present singer, and though some of the lines 

 are rugged and their sense obscure, I thought it best to 

 transcribe it faithfully, without attempting to mend the 

 weaker places. 



THE PLOUGHMAN'S SONG 



Come all you Jolly Ploughmen, with Courage Stout and Bold, 

 That labours all the Winter in Stormy Winds and Cold, 

 To clothe the Fields with Plenty, your Farm Yards to renew 

 To crown them with Contentment behold the painful Plough. 



Adam was a Ploughman when ploughing did begin 



The next that did succeed him was Cain his eldest Son 



None of this generation that's calling now pursue 



The Bread that may be wanting remains the painful Plough. 



Adam in the Garden was sent to Keep it right 



The length of time lie stayed there I believe it's said one night 



Yet of his own labours I call it not due 



For soon he lost his Garden and went and held the Plough. 



Oh Ploughman said the Gardener dont count your trade with ours 

 Walk through the Garden and View the earliest Flowers 

 Also the curious borders and the pleasant Walks to View 

 There's not such peace and plenty performed by the Plough. 



Behold the welthv Merchant that Trades iu Foreign Seas 

 That brings us Gold and Treasures for those that live at Home at Ease 

 For we must have Bread and Biscuits Rice Flour Puddings and Peas 

 To feed our Jolly Sailors, as they Sails on the Seas. 



