Stone: Sweet Betsy From Pike

Published in 1858, this ballad tells the long story (15 verses) of Betsy and Ike and their calimitous journey from Pike County, Missouri, to California during the gold rush.

Did you ever hear tell of Sweet Betsy from Pike,
Who crossed the wide mountains with her lover Ike,
Two yoke of cattle, a large yeller dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster, and a one-spotted hog.

They swam the wide rivers and crossed the tall peaks,
And camped on the prairie for weeks upon weeks.
Starvation and cholera, hard work and slaughter--
They reached California 'spite of hell and high water.