Robin and the Preacher’s Daughters

A new nursery rhyme.ballad, based on true events. This is long, but I think you'll find it worth it. It's supposed to resemble a 17th Century Scottish ballad.

Robin and the Preacher’s Daughters

 

Tommy and Robin, two brothers they were.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

One Sunday morning, they caus’d quite a stir.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

They sat in the church, with brother and sis.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

And Mother knew not that ought was amiss.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

The preacher’s five children did with them sit.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Three boys and two girls: ‘twas the start of it.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Tommy was quiet, no trouble did make.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

With his little siblings he did care take.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Likewise, the preacher’s sons did well behave.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

List’ning so rapt at the front of the nave.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Bonnie and Jenny were the preacher’s girls.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Blue-eye’d and smiling, in ribbons and curls.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Bonnie by Robin did take up her place.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

On Robin’s other side was Jenny’s space.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Up in his pulpit, their father did preach.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Words of salvation his lesson to teach.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Bonnie sat close, and lean’d on Robin’s arm.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Her head on his shoulder, sweet was her charm.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Mother was busy with wee baby sis.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Robin’s embarrassment Mother did miss.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Jenny lean’d close, and she kiss’d Robin’s cheek.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

A second and third kiss, too, did she sneak.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Whilst teaching the Word, the preacher caught sight.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

In to his eyes flar’d a most zealous light.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Tommy and the brothers did gasp and stare.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

For Bonnie and Jenny, much did they dare.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

The sermon grew faster, and louder, too.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Preacher left the pulpit, leap’d the first pew.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

“Beware, all you sinners; safeguard your soul!”

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Excited, the preacher was on a roll.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

He clear’d two more rows, then did stop and stay.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Call’d on the whole congregation to pray.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Robin was scarlet, his face flush’d with shame.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Though ‘twas the daughters were really to blame.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Mother mov’d Robin to sit by her side.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Waited her moment the children to chide.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

The preacher’s face burn’d as he said, “Amen.”

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

And ne’er was seen such in that church again.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Bonnie and Jenny were in awful fear.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Pray’d for forgiveness, shed many a tear.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Their father was pious, and he was good.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

He did not punish, for he understood.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Robin was meek, Mother’s chiding was mild.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

She, too, understood, and blam’d not her child.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

Sundays thereafter, sermons were sedate.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

For Mother kept boys and girls separate.

Heigh, ho!  Heigh, ho, the preacher!

Heigh!  Heigh, ho!  Amen!

 

 

 

Author's Note

Initial reactions and constructive criticism welcome. This is supposed to resemble a 17th Century Scottish ballad, although there are a couple of modern phrases.

Note: the three major characters were

Reviews

[Beccy]

I really enjoyed this. It has great pace, and both wit and charm.

Often difficult to keep the readers attention and carry the theme over a longish piece, but this was spot on.

'Though ‘twas the daughters were really to blame.' Poor lad, he didn't stand a chance. :))

Beccy.

[Debbie Barry]

Thanks, Beccy! I'm truly pleased that you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your kind words. Yes, the daughters were to blame, but they were all so young that it was only cute and funny. I occasionally use the true, prose version of the tale when I want to embarrass my teenage sons a bit, as mothers do from time to time. It still gets a bit of a reaction. :)

Keeping the story on track, with the rhyme and meter, was the hard part. I'm relieved that you found the story and pace worked. Thanks so much for sticking it out to the end!

[Papaya]

I thought this was a lot of fun a such a great tale told poetically and with wonderful rhymes.
As a reader I did find the repetition a bit distracting so I found that part way through I just read on skipping those lines and going straight to the rhymes. Overall though, it was a lot of fun.

[Debbie Barry]

Thanks, Ana. I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it.

[Samuel Dickens]

Certainly, this could be set to music and would resemble old ballads I've heard, both British and Appalachian. (Many of which were brought from England) In keeping with the period, but a bit prudish by today's standards. I doubt there's ever been a church service that didn't include a bit of romantic feelings on the part of the attendees.

[Debbie Barry]

Thanks, Samuel! I hope you enjoyed it. Yes, there's a lot more romance in church than most people realize or admit. This little ballad actually happened, in a rural church in western Virginia, about 11 years ago. :)

[Samuel Dickens]

Tsk-tsk, those youngsters and their uncontrollable passions! (I wish I was one of them again)

[Debbie Barry]

LOL The boys were 5 and 6, the girls 4 and 7.