Little Sir William Easter Day was a holiday, of all days in the year And all the little school children went out to play But Sir William was not there His mother went to the school wife's door And knocked at the ring Saying, "Little Sir William, if you are there Pray let your mother in." The school wife came to the door and said, "He is not here today He is out with the little school children on the green Playing some pretty play." His mother went to the river bank That was so wide and deep Saying, "Little Sir William, if you are there, Pray pity your mother's weep." "Oh how can I pity your weep, mother And I so long in pain For the little pen knife sticks close to my heart And the school wife has me slain." "Go home, go home, my mother dear, And prepare my winding sheet For tomorrow morning before eight o'clock You with my body shall meet." "And lay my prayer book at my head And my grammar at my feet That all the little school children when they pass by May read there for my sake." Child #155 AB
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!