No 36 A SWEET PRETTY MAIDEN SAT UNDER A TREE

1 A sweet pretty maiden sat under a tree, She sighed and said, 'Oh! that I married might be, My daddy is so crabbed and my mammy is so cross, That a husband for certain could never be worse.' 2 Young Johnny he heard what the damsel did say. He came to her side, and said smiling, 'Today I have a little cottage and I have a little horse I have a pleasant temper that will not grow worse. 3 'If you will be mine, and to that will agree, We'll travel together in sweet amity. There never will be wrangle, there never can be strife, Between a good husband and his pretty wife.' 4 The maiden replied, 'I am not very sure, That fond matrimony my trouble will cure, From daddy and from mammy I quickly run away And go into service for a year and a day. 5 'The ring that you hold is a link in a chain, Will fetter my freedom, my tongue will restrain I cannot run away, and I never shall be free, So take your kind offer to others than me.'