Jana and Lucy woke to Baba's bad singing that nobody but them could hear,
"Green grows the laurel, and so does the rue;
"So woeful my love, at the parting with you.
"But by our next meeting our love we'll renew;
"We'll change the green laurel to orange
"And blue." Jana smiled. She loved that song.
But there was a different song that was her favorite, "Baba! Sing Polly-Wolly-Doodle all the Day!"
"Okay. Though, you do know I'm a terrible singer," Baba smiled,
"Oh, I went down south for to see my Sal,
"Sing polly-wolly-doodle all the day;
"My Sally was a spunky gal,
"Sing polly-wolly-doodle all the day.
"Farewell, farewell, farewell, my fairy fay,
"For I'm off to Louisiana
"For to see my Suzy Anna,
"Sing polly-wolly-doodle all the day." Baba had to scold them for dancing when Uncle Philip announced 1⁄2 a mile to Denver. She didn't want them to fall over when the train stopped.
Despite not being able to dance Lucy did sing:
"Cold blows the wind to my true love,
"And gently drops the rain.
"I've never had but one true love,
"And in greenwood he lies slain."
"Lucy!" Baba wailed, "Something more cheerful, perhaps,"
"Oh Susanna don't you cry for me!
"I'm going to California, with a wash pan
"On my knee!" Jana paused, "Oh, I forget the rest."
"Through the mould and through the clay,
"Through the corn and through the hay,
"By the margin of the lake,
"O'er the river, through the brake,
"O'er the bleak and dreary moor,
"On we hie with screech and roar!" Uncle Philip grinned,
"Dash along
"Slash along!
"Crash along!
"Hies the fire-fiend to its destined goal!"
By the time Uncle Philip was done singing it was time for him to yell, "Denver, Colorado! Next
stop: Golden!"
YOU ARE READING
A New Life
Historical FictionThe lovely green silk was now fairly dusty from the train ride, a bit muddy from a puddle in front of their house, and the matching shawl was ripped on the door hinge at the mayor's house. Jana bit her lip, why had she been so careless? ~ 10-year-ol...
