'Tis merry in the Spring-time 'Tis blithe upon the moor, Where every man is equal, For every man is poor. I do what I've a mind to, And none can say me Nay, I go where I'm inclin'd to, On all sides right of way. O the merry Dartamoor! O the merry moor! I would not be where I'm not free, As I am upon the moor. 2 'Tis merry in the Summer, When furze is out and sweet, The bees about it humming, In honey bathe their feet. The plover and the peewit How cheerily they pipe, And underfoot the whortle Is waxing blue and ripe. O the merry &c. 3 'Tis merry in the Fall-time When snipe and cock appear, And never see a keeper To say, No shooting here! The turf we stock for fuel And ask no better fire, And never pay a farthing, For all that we require. O the merry &c. 4 'Tis merry in the Winter The wind is on the moor, For twenty miles to leeward The people hear the roar. 'Tis merry in the ingle Beside a Moorland lass, When watching turves a-glowing, The brimming bumpers pass. O the merry &c. No. 73 ON A MAY MORNING SO EARLY C.J.S. [Music] 1 As I walked out one May morning, One May morning so early; I there espied a fair pretty maid, All on the dew so pearly. O! 'twas sweet, sweet spring, Merry birds did sing, All in the morning early. 2 Stay, fair one, stay! Thus did I say, On a May morning so early; My tale of love, your heart will move, All on the dew so pearly. O! 'tis sweet, sweet spring, Merry birds do sing, All in the morning early. 3 No tales for me, Kind sir, said she On a May morning so early; My swain is true, I don't want two All on the dew so pearly. O! 'twas sweet, sweet spring, Merry birds did sing, All in the morning early. 4 With lightsome tread, away she sped, This May morning so early; To meet her lad, and left me sad, All on the dew so pearly. O! 'twas sweet, sweet spring, Merry birds did sing, All in the morning early. No. 74 THE SPOTTED COW H.F.S. [Music] 1 One morning so gay, in the glad month of May, When I from my cottage strayed; As broke the ray of awakening day, I met a pretty maid. A neat little lass on the twinkling grass, To see, my foot I stayed. 2 "My fair pretty maid, why wander?" I said, "So early, tell me now?" The maid replied, "Pretty Sir!" and sighed, "I've lost my Spotted Cow. She's stolen," she said, many tears she shed, "Or lost, I can't tell how." 3 "No further complain in dolorous strain, I've tidings will you cheer. I know she's strayed, in yonder green glade, Come, love! I'll shew you where. So dry up your tears and banish fears, And bid begone despair." 4