THE CHERRY-TREE CAROL—D
[_]
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.’
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.
