DOG AND GUN

The wealthy young squire of Yarmouth of late
He courted a lady of very great estate
And for to be married it was their intent
Their friends and relations had gave their consent
And for to be married it was their intent
Their friends and relations had gave their consent

The day was appointed the wedding to be
They called a young farmer to give her away
But instead of being married she took to her bed
The thoughts of the farmer still run in her head

The thoughts of the farmer run so in her mind
And the way to get him she quickly did find
Both waistcoat and breeches this lady put on
And away she went a-hunting with her dog and gun

She hunted all around where the farmer did dwell
For 'twas all in her heart that she loved him so well
She often did fire, but nothing could kill
Till at length the young farmer came into the field

'Why ain't you at the wedding,' this lady she cried
'To wait on the squire and hand him his bride?'
'Well, now, says the farmer, 'if truth I must tell,
I can't give her away, for I love her too well.'

'Supposing this lady would grant you her love,
And supposing the squire your ruin would prove?'
'Well,' said the farmer, 'I'd take sword in hand,
And by I honor I would gain her, my life at his command.'

It pleased this lady to see him so bold
She gave him a glove that was garnished with gold
She said that she had found it as she came along
As she was a-hunting with her dog and gun.

This lady went home with her heart full of love
And gave out a proclamation that she'd lost her glove
'And the man that will find it and bring it to me
Oh, the man that will find it, his bride I will be.'

It pleased this farmer to hear all the news
Straightaway to this lady the farmer he goes
Saying, 'Dear honored lady, I've picked up your glove
And will you be pleased to grant me your love?'

'It's already granted,' this lady she cried
'I love the sweet breath of the farmer,' she replied
'I'll be the mistress of his dairy and milker of his cows
While my jolly young farmer goes whistling to his plows.'

Source:
Albert Tolman, "Some Songs Traditional in the United States," Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 29, No. 112 (April-June, 1916), p. 171-172.

Notes:
"The present text was obtained for me from Mrs. Deborah Stone, Winfield, Kan., in 1897. It was learned by her in Pennsylvania in 1842 . . . . I have a New England copy (in MS.) the oral tradition of which reaches to a date before 1823"