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Lament of the Irish Gold Hunter
Written for the Alta California, July 19, 1849

TUNE--"I'm sitting on the stile, Mary."

I'm sitting on the stile, Mary
Away up in the mines,
A looking out for lumps of gold,
And pockets all I finds.
But the lumps I find is precious small,
And very few at that,
And I feel that I have been, Mary, A most almighty flat.

There's lots of change up here, Mary,
Tho' you'll find none in me,
For I spent the whole that I was worth In coming o'er the sea:
And though they says you've only got
To take your pan and pick
A pocket full of gold you'll find
It isn't quite so thick

I bless you for that nice hung beef You put into my trunk,
For when I got it 'tween my teeth I felt that I was hunk.
I bless you for the sausages>
That lasted me so long--
Tho' I'm thankful they are gone,
Mary For they smelt a little strong.

I'm very dirty now, Mary, For water's hard to get
Unless it rains, and then you're sure
Of getting pretty wet,
For there are no umbrellas here,
And the rain comes through the roof--
And then you'll have a cold or cough,
Unless you're waterproof.

I bless you for the bottled beer
That you put in my head
To take, to keep my spirits up,
Though I found it very dead!

I bless you for the friendly cheese
You put into my locker
But 'twas filled chock full with maggots,
And one a perfect whopper!
I'm brading you to keep quite well
Until the time arrive
That I return again to you If I should be alive,
For though there's bread and work for all,
I would a great deal rather
Die in old Ireland once a week
Than live here all the year.

And often right into the woods I'd go--if I could get--
For here it is so awful hot
I'm always in a sweat;
For--there is neither trees nor shade,
And I find but little gold;
And so, upon the whole,
I think I'm regularly sold.

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Page: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/irishGoldHunter
Date Entered: Between 2002 and 2008
Source: Geographicus, Newspaper Archives, Daily Alta California, Family Papers, Historical Records, Submissions from Researchers



Research and WebDesign: D. Blethen Adams Levy
Contact: D. Blethen Adams Levy
www.MaritimeHeritage.org and www.InternationalHarbors.com
1001 Bridgeway, Suite 410
Sausalito, California 94965 U.S.A.