Jimmy's Wooing - An 1859 Poem

The wind came blowing out of the west,

And Jimmy mowed the hay.

The wind came out of the west —

It stirred the green leaves out of their rest,

And rocked the blue bird up in his nest,

As Jimmy mowed the hay.

 

The swallows skimmed along the ground,

And Jimmy mowed the hay.

The swallows skimmed along the ground,

And rustling leaves made a pleasant sound.

Like children babbling all around —

As Jimmy mowed the hay.

 

Milly came with her bucket by,

And Jimmy mowed the hay —

Milly came with her bucket by,

With her light foot, so trim and sly,

And sunburnt cheek and laughing eye —

And Jimmy mowed the hay.

 

A rustic Ruth in linsey gown —

And Jimmy mowed the hay.

A rustic Ruth in linsey gown,

He watcher her soft cheeks changing brown,

And the long dark lash that trembled down,

Whenever he looked that way.

 

Oh! Milly's heart was good as gold,

And Jimmy mowed the hay —

Oh! Milly's heart was good as gold;

But Jimmy thought her shy and cold —

And more he thought than e'er he told —

As Jimmy mowed the hay.

 

The rain came pattering down amain —

And Jimmy mowed the hay;

The rain came pattering down amain,

And under the thatch of the laden train,

Jimmy and Milly, a cunning twain,

Sat sheltered by the hay.

 

The merry rain drops hurried in,

Under the thatch of hay;

The merry rain drops hurried in,

And laughed and pattered in a din,

Over that which they saw within,

Under the thatch of hay.

 

For Milly nestled to Jimmy's breast,

Under the thatch of hay.

For Milly nestled to Jimmy's breast,

Like a wild bird fluttering to its nest,

And then I'll swear she looked her best

Under the thatch of hay.

 

And when the rain came laughing out,

Over the ruined hay —

And when the rain came laughing out,

Milly had ceased to pet and pout,

And twittering birds began to shout,

As if for a wedding day.

November 1, 1859. Wheeling Daily Intelligencer 8(57): 4.