Note to pelrad: I agree that some answers have been bowlderized. Most of the early versions of Child #46 omit the story without end and the baby without crying. They often substitute much more explicit questions about winter fruit and mantles without threads. I suspect the ring without an end preceded the story wwithout an end - although since all rings have no ends or beginnings (that's why they make good wedding tokens) it seemed to me superfluous to say a ring "when it's rolling has no end". The story question, of course, is answered "when it's telling", which neatly parallels the baby "when it's making". "The story that I love you has no end" is a lovely line; I've sung it at weddings, but I don't think for a moment it's traditional; it doesn't sound right to me.

Note to MAG: Yes, Alice Kane is a saint (she would bridle at that description) and we are fortunate to have her. Unfortunately, she is not really with us, having a long, slow departure from this earth. But what an influence she has had on so many! Among other things, she taught me to honour the story, the tradition. It applies to singing a song, too. It fits in with Rick's thread on fancy pickers. A good storyteller doesn't get in between the story and the listener; neither should a good ballad singer, or folk song singer. Which is more important, the song or the singer? Alice knew the answer to that one long ago.

Lorne Brown