Sent to C. Alphonso Smith by Miss E. B. Fish, of Whtie Rock, N. C. March 1, 1913
WILLIAM TAYLOR
O William was youthful lover,
Full of youth and wealthe and heir,
And first ofa love he could discover
Was on a charming lady fair.
Samuel, knowing of Billy's doings
Till Billy gained in great success,
And Samuel swore he'd be Billy's ruin,
He'd deprive him of all happiness.
The day was set for to get married,
And dressed he was, and all ready.
In the stead of Billy's getting married,
Pressed he was, and sent on sea.
O must I live on bread and water?
Till his fair face I see again?
She dressed herself in a sailor's jacket
And then on sea she did go.
Her little fingers both slim and slender,
With kitchen fare must all be stained
Out on sea there rose a dreadful screaming
And her being one among the rest,
A silver button flew off her jacket,
And a sailor spied her snowy white breast.
Its oh pretty Miss what is the matter,
O what misfortunes brought you here?
I'm in pursuit of my own lover,
Sailed away he was from the Isle of Graham."
"If you're on pursuit of your own true lovyer,
Pray tell me what is his name?"
"His name it be one William Taylor
Pressed he was from the Isle of Graham."
"If his name it be William Taylor
Very like I know the man
If you'll rise up early in the morning,
You'll see him a-walking down the strand.
She arose early the next morning,
Just about the break of day
And there she spied her own loved William Taylor
Come walking with his lady gay.
"If xxx that be my William Taylor
She cried, "Alas, what shall I do?"
She wrung her lily-white hands
And over bow her body threw.
This lady died for William Taylor
The watery main, it was her grave.
The whole ship's grew, they tried to save her,
But all they strived it was in vain.
