O mother, hast brought my golden ball

And come to set me free?"

"I've neither brought thy golden ball

Nor come to set thee free,

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows-tree."

Then the hangman said, "Now, lass, say thy prayers for thou must die." But she said:

"Stop, stop, I think I see my father coming!

O father, hast brought my golden ball

And come to set me free?"