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THE CHERRY-TREE CAROL—D

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Notes and Queries, Fourth Series, XII, 461; taken from the mouth of a wandering gypsy girl in Berkshire.

1

O Joseph was an old man,
and an old man was he,
And he married Mary,
from the land of Galilee.

2

Oft after he married her,
how warm he were abroad,
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3

Then Mary and Joseph
walkd down to the gardens cool;
Then Mary spied a cherry,
as red as any blood.

4

‘Brother Joseph, pluck the cherry,
for I am with child:’
‘Let him pluck the cherry, Mary,
as is father to the child.’

5

Then our blessed Saviour spoke,
from his mother's womb:
‘Mary shall have cherries,
and Joseph shall have none.’

6

From the high bough the cherry-tree
bowd down to Mary's knee;
Then Mary pluckt the cherry,
by one, two, and three.

7

They went a little further,
and heard a great din:
‘God bless our sweet Saviour,
our heaven's love in.’

5

8

Our Saviour was not rocked
in silver or in gold,
But in a wooden cradle,
like other babes all.

9

Our Saviour was not christend
in white wine or red,
But in some spring water,
like other babes all.