%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Cruel STEP-MOTHER / Or, The UNHAPPY SON. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1750-1750 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 05/07/2012 32476

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

T34458 YOU most indulgent parents, lend an ear, / And you a dismal story soon shall hear; Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 289753 The Cruel STEP-MOTHER / Or, The UNHAPPY SON. The Cruel STEP-MOTHER Or, The UNHAPPY SON. The Cruel STEP-MOTHER Or, The UNHAPPY SON. 1750-1750

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 5/7/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America children death family marriage procreation punishment supernatural/ magic trickery/ deceit Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 5/7/2012 2:10:59 PM XBallad Mendoza, Aaron Created XML Version of Ballad 5/7/2012 2:10:59 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 2:10:59 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 2:10:59 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 2:10:59 PM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 8/24/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 8/24/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/12/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The Cruel</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">STEP-MOTHER</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Or, The UNHAPPY SON.</hi></seg>
YOU most indulgent parents, lend an ear, And you a dismal story soon shall hear; A story strange, but certain true indeed, Enough to make a heart of stone to bleed. In York, that famous city of renown, There livd a gentleman, one squire Brown, Whose wealth and riches were exceeding great, But yet he had no heir to his estate. He had a virtuous, kind, and loving wife, With whom he livd a comfortable life; The want of children was their only grief, But God was pleasd to send them some relief. She did conceive, and with a son, we hear, Great was the joy when she deliverd were, Much feasting, which for many days did last, Both rich and poor did of their bounty taste. It pleased God the child did live and thrive, Until it came unto the age of five; At five years old his sorrows sore begun, And so continued many years to run. The greatest pleasures that we hear can boast So sudden fade, and are but short at most; When death approaches, who can shun the dart? He has command, and strikes up to the heart. The squres lady was took wondrous ill. The doctors usd in vain their best of skill. All cannot do, the fatal stroke death gave, And no man thats born her life c[an] save. Her husband then she sent for out of hand: Her weeping friends did now around her stand; Her husband came, she said to him, My dear, The time is short I have to tarry here: Be careful of the darling child your son, See that in virtue paths he strives to run; That I in heaven may see him again, And there in endless bliss with him remain.
For the childs sake, wed not again, my dear, For if you do, I cannot rest, I fear. Let no step-mother my dear child abuse, Whom I so tenderly did love and use. My jointure, which is fifty pounds a year, I leave to him, whom I love most dear. Be you a tender father to my son, Think on my words, when I am dead and gone. He said, Dearest, these words Ill keep in mind; I to the child will prove a father kind: To wrong my child, I wrong myself, you know; I love the child too well to serve it so. Then for her child she straitways did call, Whilst tears from her cheeks down did fall; And kissing him with lips as cold as clay, The child did to his fainting mother say, Mamma, what makes you kiss me and cry? I hope you will be better speedily; I hope I shall, sweet dear, to him she said, Then turnd herself, and straitway dyd. She scarce two months in the grave w[a]s laid, Ere he forgot the promises he made; Which made the proverb true, as we do find, That out of sight is quickly out of mind. Unto a rich and wealthy widow old, He went a courting oft, as we are told; No rest or quiet would he let her have, Till her consent she unto him had gave. She said, before she to him did engage. She had a daughter fair, ten years of age; And therefore for her dear daughters sake, She was resolvd a widows will to make. He gave consent that it should be made, And in much triumph now these couple wed, But during these things were thus even done, He quite forgot his daughter and his son.
His new wife was cross, and very proud, And his own son never was allowed With them to dine, but at her chair to stand, Just like a footman, waiting her command. Her daughter she must at the table sit, And pick and cull the best of what is eat: Besides a waiting maid too miss must have. While the poor lad is made a drudge and slave. Altho he was thus scornd, yet we find How fortune unto him did prove so kind, His mothers brother died, as we hear, And left this boy two hundred pounds a year. His father then the interest was to have, For to maintain the child so fine and brave; But if he died ere to age he came, His father then was to enjoy the same. His step-mother found things were ordered so, She was resolvd to work his overthrow, Cries she, When he is put away and gone, Whats left to him will soon become my own. She with the Devil then did straitway think, And to her husband gave a sleeping drink; And as he within the garden lay Unto the boy she these words did say, Go watch your father as he sleeping lies, And if thou seest him wake, or going to rise, Come and shew me, make the best haste you can. And so she did this harmless youth trapan. The boy with watching long did go to sleep, Then softly she did to his father creep; Off from his finger she a ring did take, On purpose of this boy a thief to make. For as the innocent boy a sleeping lay, She in his pocket did the ring convey; Then with great joy into the house did come: And said, I hope his business I have done. The lad awaking, strait did rub his eyes, But seeing of his father going to rise, To inform his mother he straitway did run, Meanwhile his father in a-doors did come. And missing of his ring to her did say, My dear, what makes you take my ring away Cries she, I took it not upon my life; You may blieve me, as I am your wife. But if youd know what is of it become, Id have you to examine well your son: As in the garden you did sleeping dose, I saw him then a-fumbling at your cloaths. He went to search his son, the ring he found, Then hand and foot straitway him he bound, And lashd him till the blood did run, Whilst she, hard hearted wretch! stood gazing on. Cries she, now send this wicked rogue to sea, Lest that he doth disgrace the family. Ill get a master soon for him, she cryd, For he no longer shall with me abide. He gave consent, and she a master got; And he was sent away, hard was his lot,
Where we will leave him to cross the main, And turn to this wicked wretch again, But God, who sees our actions here below, He did not let this wretch unpunishd go For this boys mother to them did appear, One night when they in bed together were. This apparition told them of the ring, And how she servd the boy in every thing; Then did she shake the bed whereon they lay, And then it vanished from them away. The squire he was very much surprizd, And finding that his wife had told h[i]m lies, To make him send his poor boy away, He went into a strong despar they say. To add unto his grief we understand, A letter from his son came to his hand: At Jamaica he was, the le[t]ter told, And to a capt[a]in there was basely sold. And as they sailing were upon the main, They by a Spanish privateer were taen: The ship condemnd, and they were m[a]de slaves. This is, kind sir, said he, my desperate case. The father seeing th[i]s, swooned away, Crying to his wife both n[i]ght and day, Thou cursed wretch what hast thou now done, To make a father thus abuse h[i]s son? From home in grief he rambled that day, And to a lawyer went without delay, Made strait his w[i]ll, and left his son his store, Then went and hangd himself before his door, The lawyer finding what he had done, Did stra[i]tway send a letter to his son, For to advise him to come home with speed; And money sent to ransom him indeed. Which letter by good fortune he receivd, His ransom paid, and quickly was relievd; He got a ship, and home with speed he came. None but the lawyer did know of the same. He soon came home, unto the great surprize Of his base mother, who with flattring lies Would fain excuse herself; but all in vain: To law he went with her, and did obtain The cause of her; five hundred pounds beside, Because he basely was by her belyd. Which vexd her so, it almost broke her heart, To think she with her ill-got gain must part. Her darling daughter being left alone, Despisd by all, and pitied by none, She sold off all she had, and went away, And has not been heard of to this day. To step-mothers let this a warning be, Never to use poor children cruelly. For God will help the widow in distress, And be a father to the fatherless. Let parents all beg of the Lord to see Their children bred up to maturity. Till for themselves theyre able to provide. Lord send you may be their faithful guide.
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