In Chapter 27 of Rainbow Valley, Glen St. Mary is scandalized when the Meredith children hold a concert in the graveyard. Mr. Meredith speaks to his children about the matter:

“Children,” said Mr. Meredith, “I have heard something that has pained me very much. Is it true that you

sat out in the graveyard all last Thursday evening and sang ribald songs while a prayer meeting was being
held in the Methodist church?”

“Great Caesar, Dad, we forgot all about it being their prayer meeting night,” exclaimed Jerry in dismay.

“Then it is true–you did do this thing?”

“Why, Dad, I don’t know what you mean by ribald songs. We sang hymns–it was a sacred concert, you

know. What harm was that? I tell you we never thought about it’s being Methodist prayer meeting night.
They used to have their meeting Tuesday nights and since they’ve changed to Thursdays it’s hard to
remember.”

“Did you sing nothing but hymns?”

“Why,” said Jerry, turning red, “we did sing Polly Wolly Doodle at the last. Faith said, ‘Let’s have

something cheerful to wind up with.’ But we didn’t mean any harm, Father–truly we didn’t.”

Polly Wolly Woodle

Oh, I went down south for to see my Sal
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day
Oh, my Sal she am a spunky girl
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day.

Chorus
Fare thee well, fare thee well
Fare thee well my fairy fay
For I’m goin’ to Louisiana for to see my Susy-anna
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day.

Oh, my Sal she am a maiden fair
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day
With curly eyes and laughing hair
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day.

I came to a river and couldn’t get across
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day
I jumped on a gator and thought he was a hoss
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day.

A grasshopper sitting on a railroad track
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day
A picking his teeth with a carpet tack
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day.

Chorus twice

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