Robert Richardson Richard and Kate, or Fair-Day: A Suffolk Ballad (1847)

 

FROM THE

THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN
 
LITERARY MESSENGER AND REVIEW.
 
=================================================================
 
JANUARY, 1847.
 
=================================================================

 

MR. EDITOR:
      I do not know that the following characteristic and most engaging tale has ever been published in America. A single copy, dated 1800, and elegantly printed on fine paper, but now in some parts defaced, has been in my possession for a number of years. I am not acquainted with any ballad in the English language which combines so much of that unaffected simplicity, that natural pathos and charming imagery which appropriately belong to this species of composition. With a rhythm much less labored than that of Goldsmith's "Hermit," it possesses sufficient smoothness, and has all the descriptiveness of the ancient English ballads without their rudeness and iteration. There is everywhere a skilful introduction of such particulars and allusions as present to the mind a vivid picture, nor is the mutual adaptation of the subject and the poetry less admirable than the congruity which is so happily preserved throughout every part. I am sure its publication in the "Messenger and Review," will confer a great favor upon its readers.
R. RICHARDSON.      
      Bethpage, Va., near Bethany College.
 
 
RICHARD AND KATE;
 
OR,
 
F A I R - D A Y .
 
A   S U F F O L K   B A L L A D .
 
I.
 
"Come, Goody, stop your humdrum wheel,
    Sweep up your orts,1 and get your Hat;
Old joys reviv'd once more I feel,
    'Tis Fair-day;-ay, and more than that.
 
II.
 
"Have you forgot, KATE, prithee say,
    How many seasons here we've tarry'd?
'Tis forty years, this very day,
    Since you and I, old Girl, were married!
 
III.
 
"Look out;--the sun shines warm and bright,
    The stiles are low, the paths all dry;
I know you cut your corns last night;
    Come, be as free from care as I.
IV.
 
"For I'm resolv'd once more to see
    That place where we so often met;
Though few have had more cares than we,
    We've none just now to make us fret."
 
V.
 
KATE scorn'd to damp the generous flame
    That warm'd her aged Partner's breast:
Yet, ere determination came,
    She thus some trifling doubts express'd;--
 
VI.
 
"Night will come on; when seated snug,
    And you've perhaps begun some tale,
Can you then leave your dear stone mug;
    Leave all the folks, and all the Ale?"
 
VII.
 
"Ah! KATE, these things are past, I trow,
    Though time has been we both could run:
Such days are gone and over now:--
    I only mean to see the fun."
 
VIII.
 
She straight slipp'd off the Wall and Band,2
    And laid aside her Lucks and Twitches;2
And to the Hutch3 she reach'd her hand,
    And gave him out his Sunday Breeches.
 
IX.
 
His Mattock he behind the door
    And Hedging-gloves again replac'd;
And look'd across the yellow Moor,
    And urg'd his tott'ring Spouse to haste.
 
X.
 
The day was up, the air serene,
    The Firmament without a cloud;
The Bee humm'd o'er the level green
    Where knots of trembling Cowslips bow'd.
 
XI.
 
And RICHARD thus, with heart elate,
    As past things rush'd across his mind,
Over his shoulder talk'd to KATE,
    Who, snug tuckt up, walk'd slow behind.
 
XII.
 
"When once a giggling Mawther4 you,
    And I a red-faced chubby Boy,
Sly tricks you play'd me not a few;
    For mischief was your greatest joy.
 
XIII.
 
"Once, passing by this very tree,
    A Gotch5 of Milk I'd been to fill,
You shoulder'd me; then laugh'd to see
    Me and my Gotch spin down the hill."
 
XIV.
 
"'Tis true," she said; "But here behold,
    And marvel at the course of Time;
Though you and I are both grown old,
    This Tree is only in its prime!" [15]
 
XV.
 
"Well, Goody, don't stand preaching now;
    Folks don't preach Sermons at a FAIR:
We've rear'd Ten Boys and Girls you know;
    And I'll be bound they'll all be there."
 
XVI.
 
Now friendly nods and smiles had they,
    From many a kind Fair-going face;
And many a pinch KATE gave away,
    While RICHARD kept his usual pace.
 
XVII.
 
At length arriv'd amidst the throng,
    Grand-children bawling hemm'd them round;
And dragg'd them by the skirts along
    Where gingerbread bestrew'd the ground.
 
XVIII.
 
And soon the aged couple spy'd
    Their lusty Sons and Daughters dear:
When RICHARD thus exulting cried,
    "Didn't I tell you they'd be here?"
 
XIX.
 
The cordial greetings of the soul
    Were visible in every face;
Affection, void of all control,
    Govern'd with a resistless grace.
 
XX.
 
'Twas good to see the honest strife,
    Which should contribute most to please;
And hear the long-recounted life,
    Of infant tricks and happy days.
 
XXI.
 
But now, as at some nobler places,
    Amongst the Leaders 'twas decreed
Time to begin the DICKY RACES;
    More fam'd for laughter, than for speed.
 
XXII.
 
Richard look'd on with wond'rous glee,
    And prais'd the Lad who chanc'd to win;
"Kate, wa'nt I such a one as he!
    As like him, ay, as pin to pin!
 
XXIII.
 
"Full fifty years are pass'd away
    Since I rode this same ground about:
Lord! I was lively as the day!
    I won the High-Lows out and out!
 
XXIV.
 
"I'm surely growing young again;
    I feel myself so kedge and plump:
From head to foot I've not one pain;
    Nay, hang me, if I could'nt jump."
 
XXV.
 
Thus spake the ALE in RICHARD'S pate--
    A very little made him mellow;
But still he lov'd his faithful KATE,
    Who whisper'd thus, "My good old fellow,
 
XXVI.
 
"Remember what you promis'd me:
    And see, the Sun is getting low:
The children want an hour ye see
    To talk a bit before we go."
 
XXVII.
 
Like youthful Lover most complying
    He turn'd, and chuckt her by the chin
Then all across the green grass hieing,
    Right merry faces, all akin.
 
XXVIII.
 
Their farewell quart, beneath a tree
    That droop'd its branches from above,
Awak'd the pure felicity
    That waits upon PARENTAL LOVE.
 
XXIX.
 
KATE view'd her blooming Daughters round,
    And Sons who shook her wither'd hand:
Her features spoke what joy she found;
    But utterance had made a stand.
 
XXX.
 
The Children toppled on the green,
    And bowl'd their fairings down the hill;
RICHARD with pride beheld the scene,
    Nor could he for his life sit still.
 
XXXI.
 
A Father's uncheck'd feelings gave
    A tenderness to all he said;
"My Boys, how proud am I to have
    My name thus round the Country spread!
 
XXXII.
 
"Through all my days I've labored hard,
    And could of pains and crosses tell;
But this is Labor's great reward,
    To meet ye thus, and see ye well.
 
XXXIII.
 
"My good old Partner, when at home
    Sometimes with wishes mingles tears;
'Goody,' says I, 'let what wool come,
    We've nothing for them but our pray'rs.' [16]
 
XXXIV.
 
"May you be all as old as I,
    And see your sons to manhood grow;
And many a time before you die,
    Be just as pleas'd as I am now."
 
XXXV.
 
Then, (raising still his Mug and Voice)
    "An old man's weakness don't despise!
I love you well, my Girls and Boys;
    God bless you all;"--so said his eyes--
 
XXXVI.
 
For, as he spoke, a big round drop
    Fell bounding on his ample sleeve;
A witness which he could not stop,
    A witness which all hearts believe.
 
XXXVII.
 
Thou FILIAL, PIETY, wert there:
    And round the ring benignly bright
Dwelt in the luscious half-shed tear,
    And in the parting word--Good-night.
 
XXXVIII.
 
With thankful Hearts and strengthen'd Love,
    The poor old PAIR, supremely blest,
Saw the Sun sink behind the grove,
    And gain'd once more their lowly rest.

 

      1 Ort, a fragment.
      2 Terms used in Spinning.
      3 Hutch, a chest.
      4 Mawther, a foolish young girl.
      5 A pitcher.

 

[Southern and Western Literary Messenger and Review 13 (January 1847): 15-17.]

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      Robert Richardson's "Richard and Kate, or Fair-Day: A Suffolk Ballad" was first published in the Southern and Western Literary Messenger and Review, Vol. 13, No. 1, January 1847, pp. 15-17.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. In the printed text, footnotes are indicated by printer's devices (asterisks, daggers, etc.); in the electronic text, they are treated as sequentially numbered endnotes. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
373 Wilson Street
Derry, PA 15627-9770
e_stefanik@email.msn.com

Created 7 May 2000.

Robert Richardson Richard and Kate, or Fair-Day: A Suffolk Ballad (1847)
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