Sally Gray/The Happy Stranger

THE HAPPY STRANGER.

As I was a-walking one morning in spring,
To hear the birds whistle, & Nightingale sing,
I heard a fair maid she was making her moan.
Saying, I, a poor stranger & far from my own.

I stept up unto her, and made a low gee,
And asked her pardon for making so free;
Saying, I have taken pity on hearing your moan,
As I’m also a stranger, and far from my own.

Her cheeks blush'd like roses & she shed a tear,
And laid, Sir I wonder at meeting you here!
I hope you'll not ill use me in this desart alone,
As I am a poor stranger, and far from my own.

My dear, to ill use you indeed I never will.
My heart’s blood to save you indeed I would spill
I'd strive for to ease & relieve all your moan.
And wish to convey you safeback to your home.

Therefore, my dear jewel, if you would agree,
And if ever you marry, to marry with me;
I Would be your guardian thro' those dasarts unknown.
Until with your parents I’d leave you at home.

Sir, where is your Country. I'd wish for to know ?
And what’s the misfortunes you did undergo?
That caus'd you to wander so far from your home,
And made us meet strangers in this desart alone.

He says, my sweet fair one the truth I will tell.
If I was in my own country near Newry I dwell,
But yet to misfortunes my love I was prone,
Which made many a hero go far from his home.

Sir the lads of sweet Newry are all roving blades
And take great delight in courting fair-maids,
They kiss them, and press them, and call them their own,
And perhaps your darling lies mour ning at home.

Believe me, my jewel, the case is not so;
I never was married, the truth you must know.
So these strangers agreed as the case it is known.
I wish them both happy & safe to their home.