BonieJean—ABallad

boniejean—aballad

toitsaintune.

therewasalass,andshewasfair,

atkirkormarkettobeseen;

whena'ourfairestmaidsweremet,

thefairestmaidwasboniejean.

andayeshewroughthermammie'swark,

andayeshesangsaemerrilie;

theblythestbirduponthebush

hadne'eralighterheartthanshe.

buthawkswillrobthetenderjoys

thatblessthelittlelintwhite'snest;

andfrostwillblightthefairestflowers,

andlovewillbreakthesoundestrest.

youngrobiewasthebrawestlad,

theflowerandprideofa'theglen;

andhehadowsen,sheep,andkye,

andwantonnaigiesnineorten.

hegaedwi'jeanietothetryste,

hedanc'dwi'jeanieonthedown;

and,langerewitlessjeaniewist,

herheartwastint,herpeacewasstown!

asinthebosomofthestream,

themoon-beamdwellsatdewye'en;

sotrembling,pure,wastenderlove

withinthebreastofboniejean.

andnowsheworkshermammie'swark,

andayeshesighswi'careandpain;

yetwistnawhatherailmightbe,

orwhatwadmakeherweelagain.

butdidnajeanie'sheartlouplight,

anddidnajoyblinkinhere'e,

asrobietauldataleo'love

aee'eningonthelilylea?

thesunwassinkinginthewest,

thebirdssangsweetinilkagrove;

hischeektohershefondlylaid,

andwhisper'dthushistaleo'love:

“ojeaniefair,ilo'etheedear;

ocanstthouthinktofancyme,

orwiltthouleavethymammie'scot,

andlearntotentthefarmswi'me?

“atbarnorbyrethoushaltnadrudge,

ornaethingelsetotroublethee;

butstrayamangtheheather-bells,

andtentthewavingcornwi'me.”

nowwhatcouldartlessjeaniedo?

shehadnaewilltosayhimna:

atlengthsheblush'dasweetconsent,

andlovewasayebetweenthemtwa.