'Young Jimmy the Miller.' From the manuscript of William Dresia of
Columbus, Kansas, compiled in the 70s of the last century and secured by Miss Lowry in 1909. From Belden, Ballads and songs Collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society, 1940. No tune.

JIMMY THE MILLER

Young Jimmy the miller lie courted of late
A farmer's fair daughter called beautiful Kate.
She had for her portion fine jewels and rings,
Gay gold and silver, and many fine things.
She had for her portion
She had for her portion full fifty fine things.

Her glittering money and beauty likewise
Both tickled his fancy and dazzled his eyes,
So that he was obliged for to tell her his mind
That he would prove to her comfort and kind,
That no other woman should be his sweet bride.
She was a jewel
For she was a jewel and comfort, he cried.

The day was appointed, the money paid down;
It was a full portion of five hundred pound.
The preacher was sent for, this couple was dressed.
Says Jimmy to the father, 'I have one more request;
Although your daughter is comely and fair,
I won't have your daughter,
I won't have your daughter without the gray mare.'

The old man he angered, he angered in speed.
'I thought you had married my daughter indeed;
But since it's no better I'm glad it's no worse.
No more of my money you shall have from my purse;
You shan't have my daughter, I vow and declare,
You shan't have my daughter
You shan't have my daughter, neither the gray mare.'

Young Jimmy was turned straightway out of door
And charged for to never come back any more.
Young Jimmy he tore down his long yellow hair
And wished that he never
And wished that he never stood for the the gray mare.

In a year or two or somewhere about
He chanced for to meet with Miss Katy his love.
Says he, 'Miss Katy, it's don't you know me?'
'I have saw someone of your likeness, if I han't mistaking,' said she,
'A man of your likeness with long yellow hair
That once came a-courting
That once came a-couring my father's gray mare.'

''Twas not the gray mare a-courting I came,
It was Miss Katy, to call her by name;
But little did I think that your father would doubt
Of giving his daughter and gray mare to boot
For the sake of such a fine beautiful son.
But now I am sorrow,
But now I am sorrow for what I have done.'

'I care nothing for your sorrow, I value them not;
There is young men enough in this world to be got.
I think a young man would be in despair
To marry a wife for the sake of a mare.
The price of a mare is not so great.
So fare you well, Jimmy,
So fare you well, Jimmy, go mourn for your Kate.'