The following copy was communicated by Mr W. W. Newell, as derived from Miss Emma M. Backus, North Carolina, who says: “This is an old English song, in the Yorkshire dialect, which was brought over to Virginia before the Revolution. It has not been written for generations, for none of the family have been able to read or write.” Miss Backus adds that the pronunciation indicated is by no means that which is ordinarily used by the people who sing this ballad. It will, however, be noted that the Yorkshire dialect is not well preserved.
THE HANGMAN’S TREE.
1
‘Hangman, hangman, howd yo hand,
O howd it wide and far!
For theer I see my feyther coomin,
Riding through the air.
2
‘Feyther, feyther, ha yo brot me goold?
Ha yo paid my fee?