No 31 JAN’S COURTSHIP

1 Come hither, son Jan! since thou art a man, I'll gi'e the best counsel in life, Come, sit down by me, and my story shall be, I'll tell how to get thee a wife. Iss, I will! man, I will! Zure I will! I'll tell how to get thee a wife! Iss, I will! 2 Thy self thou must dress in thy Sunday-go-best; They'll at first turn away and be shy. But boldly, kiss each purty maid that thou see'st, They'll call thee their Love, by-and-bye. Iss, they will! man, they will! Zure they will! They'll call thee their love by-and-bye! Iss, they will! 3 So a courting Jan goes in his holiday clothes, All trim, nothing ragged and torn, From his hat to his hose; with a sweet yellow rose, He looked like a gentleman born. Iss, he did! man he did! Zure he did! He looked like a gentleman born! Iss he did! 4 The first pretty lass that Jan did see pass, A farmer's fat daughter called Grace. He'd scarce said 'How do?' and a kind word or two, Her fetched him a slap in the face. Iss, her did! man, her did! Zure her did! Her fetched him a slap in the face! Iss, her did! 5 As Jan, never fearing o' nothing at all Was walking adown by the locks, He kiss'd the parson's wife, which stirred up a strife And Jan was put into the stocks. Iss, he was! man, he was! Zure he was! And Jan was put into the stocks! Iss, he was! 6 'If this be the way, how to get me a wife,' Quoth Jan, 'I will never have none. I'd rather live single the whole of my life And home to my mammy I'll run. Iss, I will! man, I will Zure I will! And home to my mammy I'll run! Iss, I will.'