From The Book Buyer (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons):


[Vol XI, No. 8, September, 1894, page 399:]

For a considerable time I have tried to ascertain, from many sources, from what song the following is taken. I am told it was sung in the nursery forty years ago. Music-dealers fail to give light on the subject. Can some of your readers aid me?

"There once was a bold sportsman
Who loved to hunt the fox;
He loved to chase bold Reynard
Among the hills and rocks.
With a hoot, hoot, hoot, and a holloa,
All in a merry strain:
With a ram-tam-tam and a tivy-tivy-tam,
And away to the Royal Dover.
Ri-tu-ra-lu goes the bugle horn.
Ri-fol-a-rol-a-rol-a-tidy-i-de-um:
Through the woods we roam, brave boys,
Through the woods we roam."

C. E. P.


[Vol. XI, No. 10, November, 1894, page 514:]

I know a fox-hunting song that I sometimes sing when I can get people to listen to me. I learned it of an Englishman who brought it from Cornwall fifty years ago. The words differ somewhat from those given by "C. E. P." I quote the first verse and the chorus. Words and music make the most soul-stirring chorus I ever heard. I shall he glad to furnish them to "C. E. P."

"Come all ye merry sportsmen
Who love to hunt the fox,
Who love to chase bold Reynard
Among the hills and rocks!
Come a-whoop, come a-whoop, come a-hilo,
Along the merry lane,
With a rap-tap-tap and a rip-a-tip-tip
And hurrah, boys, with a bow-wow-wow!
And a roodle-doodle-do goes the bugle horn,
Sing fee-fi-fiddle-di-i-di-aye;
And through the woods we'll run, brave boys,
And through the woods we'll run."

W. O. F.

*

I am familiar with a song that appears to be of German origin, though it is the same in substance as the English one referred to. I never have seen it in print. This is it:

"O the first who saw him was a farm maid,
A-counting out her flock;
She said she saw Beau Reynard
Among her geese and duck.

With a hoop, hoop, hoop, and a heigh O,
Along the narrow straat,
Rat, tat, tat, and a tippe, tippe tap,
With a bow, wow, wow,
Cum a hoodle, doodle, doo.
And a bugle sound,
As thro' the woods he ran, brave boys,
As through the woods he ran.

The next who saw him was a teamster
A-coming with his team;
He said he saw Beau Reynard
A-crossing of the stream.

The last who saw him was a gunner,
A-coming with his gun;
He said he saw Beau Reynard
And shot him as he run."

H. E. C.