Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-27
OF LONG AGO WANTED NOW
tny Dr. G. Arhon.o Smith o
tBy DIR. G. AIphonSo SIN

In the Journal OF American Folk
Lore, for April-Junc. 1915. DIR. Reed
Smith. OF the University of South
Carolina, says: During 1914 Virginia
easily took FIRST place among all tho
States in tho Union in ballad collect
ing 1t seems probable now that our
report for 1915 will be better than our
report for 1914. There are ten bal
lads, however. which the Virginia
FOLKLORE Society is very anxious to
secure. These ballads have been found
In one or more of the Southern States.
but not one of them has yet been re-
ported from Virginia. Our list OF finds
Is already much greater than that OF
any other state. but l feel sure that
II thorough search is made. we shall
be able TO add at least few OF the
ballads which have been reported from
other Southern States. but not yet from
Virginia. Here is the list:
I. The Elm Knight tChld No. p
This ballad is also known as The
Wind Hath Blown My Plaid Away"
and as The Cambria Shirt" 1t has
been reported from Missouri and Ten
as. 1t is a riddle ballad The elhn
knight asks a series OF riddles or
imposes certain tasks. all OF which
are successfully achieved by the
ma iden.
II. The Three Ravens CChi!d No. 26)
This ballad has been found in South
times called The Two Corbics' or
The Two Crows" The first stanza
runs:
There were three ravens sat on a tree.
They were as black they might
be-" or,
LAS I was walking all alone,
I heard two corbies making moan;
The one unto the other did say,
Where shall We go and dine today"
III. Young Hunting Child No. 6s>
This ballad has been found in
Georgia and kentucky, and IS some
times called Loving Henry" or Sweet
William and Fair Ellender." The arst
stanza is spoken By the lover:
20 lady. rock never your young son.
One hour longer for me.
For I have sweetheart in Garlicks
Wells
love thrice better than thee"
or course the names in any ballad
may be entirely changed. hut the story
in this case Is OF 4 woman who kills
her false lover and is betrayed by
tcll-tale parrot.
". The Bailir's Daughter OF Isling-
ton (Child No. 1859
This famous ballad is current in
Georgia and Kentucky and bears the
additional title OF True Love Re-
Quilted"
There was a youth, and a we'll be-
loved youth.
And he was an esquires son:
He loved the bailiff's daughter dear.
That lived in Islington."
V. Robin Hood and Guy of Osborne
(Child No. 1lS)
No complete version Of this ballad
has yet been found in England or
America, but Il fragmentary version
is reported from North Carolina. TIL
this fragment was announced. Virginia
was the only State from which a Robin
Hood ballad had been reported 1t is
needless to say that tho finding Of
this ballad or even a small part of 1t
in Virginia would be an epoch in the
life OF our Folklore Society. In the
the story Robin kills Guy OF Osborne
in single combat. and takes the dead
mans clothes. bow. arrows. and horn.
Interesting complications follow.
VI. Dick o. the Cow (Child No. 1851
This ballad has been found in Mis-
souri,. Johnny Armstrong steals Dicks
three cows. Dick retaliates glorious
ly.
VII. Geordie Child No 2oe)
This ballad, which has been found
in Missouri. is also known as Georgia"
and as The Laird of Gigh." Geordie
Is condemned to death, but his wife
raises five thousand pounds Cor ten
thousand crowns), has an interview
with the King, and secures her hus-
bands liberation.
VIII. Henry Martin (Child No. 800
This ballad is known as Andrew
Bartin' and as ANDY I3ardan." 1t
has been found in South Carolina The
first stanza is
lin merry Scotland, in merry Scotland
There lived brothers three;
They all did cast lots which of them
should go
A-robbinS upon the salt sea"
The lot falls to Henry Martin. He
sinks the first vessel that he meets.
In one version he is killed. in another
he escapes.
IN. The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin
(Child No. 27)
This ballad is known as "Dandoo"
or Sweet Robin" or robin He's Gone
to the Wood" IT has been reported
from Kentucky and Missouri The
first stanza is:
She would not bake. she would not
brew,
For spelling of her comely hue"
Her husband Ia unwilling to beat
her, so he wraps her In sleeps skin
and lambasts tho skin. He reports