Betsy The Serving Maid

Now a farmer's daughter living near
A dreadful story you soon will hear
All off to London she made away
For she was bound a serving maid to be.
And she went till she came to some squire's hall,
and loudly there she did knock and call,
“I hear you want a servant,” she said,
“well I am Betsy, a serving maid.”
The squire had one only son,
and very soon Betsy's heart he won;
and Betsy being both blithe and fair,
this poor boy's heart she did ensnare.
And so one Sunday evening he took his time
and unto Betsy he told his mind,
he swore by oaths and by stars above,
“'Tis you, sweet Betsy, 'tis you I love.”
But the old woman hearing him say so,
it filled her heart with both grief and woe.
“We must contrive to send her away
to be a slave on in Amerikay.”
And so next Monday morning the old woman arose,
crying, “Betsy, go gather up your clothes;
I am going some friends to see
and only you, Betsy, shall go with me.”
And they went until they come to some seaport town,
where ships were sailing both up and down;
a ship was hailed soon and in she went
poor Betsy sailed then in discontent.
and a few days the old woman come home,
“It's welcome home, mother,” cried her son,
“welcome home, mother, on every side,
but where is Betsy the serving maid?”
“Oh son, oh son, on son,” said she,
"Your heart's delight is all on the sea.
For I'd rather see my son lying dead
than to see him married to a serving maid.”
but a few days later this poor boy fell sick,
so very sad all and in bed was he.
they could not cure him though all they tried,
he called on Betsy and then he died.
and when she see her son all lying dead,
she wrung her hands and she tore her head,
“If I could see my son rise again,
I'd send for Betsy across the main.”