Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Folklorists and lovers of folk songs will delight in this collection of the lyrics of songs sung by settlers of western New York in the middle of the nineteenth century. The manuscript on which this book is based is the most important collection of traditional song-texts, British and American in origin, to survive from its period. Discovered in the 1930s in the attic of Harry S. Douglass in Arcade, New York, it was written by Julia S. and Volney O. Stevens, who transcribed nearly ninety of the songs with which their father, Artemas Stevens, so often entertained them. The Stevens family had come to Wyoming County, New York, from New England in 1836, bringing with them traditional songs and ballads. The Stevens-Douglass manuscript contains the texts of 89 songs. In A Pioneer Songster, these are organized first by their origins (36 are from the British Isles; 53 were composed in America) and then according to themes and subjects, including love, history, politics, the pioneering life, politics, murder and shipwrecks, minstrel songs, spirituals, Indian legends, temperance, and satire. The book features a general introduction and shorter introductions to each themed section. In addition, each song is accompanied by an informative headnote detailing its history, meaning, and significance. A Pioneer Songster has been edited for the enjoyment of the general reader, but in their annotation, the editors have aimed at assisting students and scholars of folklore, musicology, and American history. While preserving the manuscript's original punctuation and spelling, they have succeeded in creating a resource that will be of interest to all who care for the American folk tradition and the history of New York State.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ... we praise, Hobart, Hobart, Hobart our home. We dream of Commencements, of Soirees, and Balls Of Class-day adjourned to Hermean; Of Linden, most lov'd and most honored of Halls, The home of the Terpsichorean. The bells of Geneva in beauty arise, Again to enchant and to charm us; But tho' the same brilliancy beams from their eyes, Their power can no longer alarm us. Again the smooth sheen of the calm " Silver Lake" In beauty is gleaming before us, The skies, winds, and waters are only awake. To listen and join in our chorus. The pert little waves gently skipping along, Make music among the smooth pebbles, The merry stars, winking, keep time with the sons. The wind harps chime in with their trebles. Then shout for Old Hobart, Old Hobart our home, What memories cluster around her; Her honor we cherish wherever we roam, No hate nor detraction shall wound her. Her star shall shine brighter as others grow dim. And rise to its zenith of glory; Her name shall be honored in pamn and hymn, Her fame shall be cherished in story. MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB. Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb, Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow, And everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mar went, Kverywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go.. CHORUS. Bleating of the lamb, Ba-a-a-ah, Ba-a-a-ah, O! aint I glad to get out the wilderness, get out the wilderness, get out the wilderness, Aint I glad to get out the wilderness, Leaning on the lamb. It followed her to school one day, school one day, school one day, It followed her to school one day, It was against the rule, It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play, laugh and play, It made the children laugh and play, To see the lamb at school. SONGS OF AMHERST COLLEGE. KING...

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