1782: "A Spinning Song"
Elizabeth Graeme Ferguson was an American poet in the late 1700s. One of her most popular poems is usually called "A Spinning Song" and reflects one of the domestic jobs that many young women performed: spinning wool or flax into thread which would then be woven into cloth for the family's use or to be sold. In some notes published with the poem in the 18th Century, Ferguson highlighted that she did a lot of spinning. According to tradition, she took spun thread or prepared cloth to the Continental Army while it was encamped at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War.
Spelling and capitalization is original.
A Song written during the Time of War 1782 written to be sung at a Spinning Frolic, where it is the Custom in the County for a number of young Women to Collect together to spin a Web of Linnen and Have a little Hop [dance] in the Evening.
A SONG
Since Fate hath assigned us these rural abodes
Far distant from Honour, and Fortunes High Roads
Let us Cheerfully pass thro' Lifes innocent Dale,
Nor look up to the Mountain since fix'd in the Vale
When Storms rage the fiercest, and mighty trees fall
The lone Shrub is sheltered that Clings to the wall
Let our Wheels, and our Reels go Merrily round,
While Health, Peace and Virtues among us are found.
2
Tho' the great call us little and do us dispise
Yet sure it is Wise to make little suffice.
In his we will teach them altho they are great
It is always true Wisdom to bend to our Fate
For the King or Congress should carry the Day
We Farmers and Spinners must learn to Obey.
Let our Wheels, and our Reels go Merrily round,
While Health, Peace and Virtues among us are found.
3
Our flax hath its beauties: an elegant green
When it Shoots from the Earth Enamels the scene
When moistened and broken in filaments fine
Our Maidens they drawn the flexible Line:
Then let our Wheels, and our Reels go Merrily round,
While Health, Peace and Virtues among us are found.
4
Some fine as a Cobweb while some is more coarse
To wear but in Common by Substance and force
Since all have assembled to Card and to Spin
Come Girls quick be nimble and shortly begin
To help Neighbor Friendly and when we have done
The Boys they shall join us at set of the Sun
Perhaps our brisk partners may lead us thro Life
And the Dance of the Night End in Husband and Wife
Then let our Wheels, and our Reels go Merrily Round,
While Health, Peace and Virtues among us are found.
Source:
"Elizabeth Graeme Ferguson: A Poet In 'The Athens of North America'" published in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 108, No. 3 (Jul., 1984), pp. 259-288, University of Pennsylvania Press.
