Text divider from 'The Humble Beggar', a chapbook printed in Glasgow in 1802
THE HAPPY STRANGER.
As I was walking one morning in spring, To hear the birds whistle & nightingale sing, I heard a fair maid and she was making her moan, Saying, I am a poor stranger and 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 you moan, As I am a stranger, and far from my own.
Her cheeks blush'd like roses and she shed a tear, And says, Sir, I wonder at meeting you here, But 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 ne'er will, My heart's blood to save you indeed I would spill, I'd strive for to ease and relieve all your moan, And wish to convey you safe back to your home,
Therefore my dear jewel, if you would agree, And if ever you marry to marry with me, I'd be your guardian thro' those desarts 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 & press them, & call them their own, And perhaps your darling lies mourning 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, And I with them both happy & safe to their home.
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