Don’t be angry with me, Dad, don’t drive me from your door.

voiceColl. by M.C. Parler Mrs. Donia Cooper West Fork, Ark. August 4, 1959 Reel 287-288, Item 4 The Black Sheep In a little village, not so very far away, Lived an old and feeble man whose hair was turning gray, He had three sons, three only ones; Jack and Tom were sly, While Ted was honest as could be and would not tell a lie The others began to ruin poor Ted all in the old man’s eye, Until the poison began to work. Poor Ted was one despised. Then one day he said, "Begone. You’re heartless to the core." And these are the words the lad did hear, came ringing by the door: Chorus: ’’Don’t be angry with me, Dad, don’t drive me from your door. I know that I’ve been foolish but I won’t be any more. Just give to me another chance and put me to the test, You’ll find the black sheep loves his Dad far better than the rest. Years and years passed quickly by, the father’s growing old. One day he called both Jack and Tom and gave to them his gold. ”I only want the chimney corner by the fire for life.” And then one day returning home, Jack brought with him his wife. The bride began to hate the old man more and more each day, Until one day he heard her say, The old fools in the way.” They all agreed to dend their dad to a poor house that was near. And as the old man heard, these words came ringing in his ear: Chorus Just then a wagon drove up to the door; it was the poor-house van. The boys then pointed out their dad and said "There is your man.” And then a tall and manly form came rushing through the crowd. ’’Stop! stop!” this young man quickly said, ’’This will not be allowed. You’ve stole the old man’s property and all that he possessed, You’ve even stole the little lot containing his wife’s grave. I am his son, but not your kin, from this till Jucgment Day!” The old man clasp the black sheep’s hand’s, and the crowd then heard him say: -more !-Reel 287-288, Item 4 Continued Chorus: "Don’t be angry with me lad, I drove you from my door, I know I have been foolish — I repent it o’er and o’er. I wish I had give you my gold for you have stood the test. I find the Black Sheep loves his dad far better than the rest”Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation