Then she resolved in her mind,
To put a stop to her son's incline.
The very next morning the old lady arose,
Calling for Betsey, "Put on your clothes,
For out of town with me you must go,
To wait upon me one day or two."
The very next morning Betsey arose.
And dressed herself in her milkwhite clothes,
Saying, "Madam! I'm ready to go with thee,
To wait upon you one day or three."
To a very rich merchant Betsey was bound,
To sail the ocean round and round:
"Oh welcome home, dear mother," he said,
"But where is Betsey, your servant maid?"
"Oh son! Oh son! I plainly see,
There is great love between Betsey and thee,
No more, no more, for 't is all in vain,
For Betsey's a-sailing o'er the main."
Oh then these words struck her son sad!
'T was not all the world could make him glad,
In slumbering dreams he was heard to cry,
"Oh beautiful Betsey! For thee I die."[1]
The following variant of the last stanzas attests the popularity of the song:—
For many doctors they did send,
And much upon him they did spend,
But all physicians were in vain,
For yet in love he did remain.
For many doctors they did send:
To try their skill and to try their means,
'T was not all the world could give relief,
He died out of sorrow, heartbroke with grief.
When the old lady saw her son was dead,
She pulled the hair out of her head,
Saying, "If my son could but breathe again,
I'd send for Betsey all o'er the main."[2]
