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School: Gort an Iubhair

Location:
Gortanure, Co. Roscommon
Teacher:
Donncha Ó Fiachra
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0242, Page 109

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0242, Page 109

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  3. XML “Ballads - The Cruel Stepmother”

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  1. Ballads - The Cruel Stepmother

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    The Cruel Stepmother
    (Got from Mrs Grady of Cashelduff, aged eighty years)
    You tender-hearted Christian I hope you will draw near
    Its of cruel stepmother I mean to let you hear
    She poisoned two fine children the truth I will pen down
    Their father being a farmer his name was Robert Brown
    Their mother died all in her bloom and left some money set down
    For each of her two children she left two hundred pound
    The farmer he got married unto another wife
    That was the wicked villain who took away their life
    She went into a doctors shop some poison for to buy
    And said ti was to kill some rats that did the house annoy
    It being on Sunday morning the farmer he did say:-
    Get ready my dear children and we'll go to Mass to day
    The farmers daughter and stepmother they both stayed at home
    She said we'll have a cup of tea as we are all alone
    The farmers daughter made a cake without the least delay
    Into it the wicked villain the poison did convey
    And when the tea was ready she cut the cake in two
    Saying I'll leave a half for your brother and the other half for you
    The maid at first ate heartly but soon fell very ill
    Then this wicked villain a cup of tea did fill
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. genre
      1. poetry
        1. folk poetry (~9,504)
    Language
    English
    Informant
    Mrs Grady
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    80
    Address
    Cashelduff, Co. Mayo