The Traditional Song by Maria Panfiorova

Step it out, Mary, my fine daughter.

Of course, there was no soldier boy and no sailor boy and there was no marriage promise and there was no pregnancy. She was just desperate to find excuses. Father was furious, at first; father called her ungrateful and foolish, but at the end he said: “It’s not a reason to refuse the good man’s proposal.”
Step it out, Mary, if you can.
Of course, the good man spoke formally and good man promised land and fortune. She smiled to him. Maybe, it was worth trying telling a sailor story to him, but she doubted there would be any use.
Step it out, Mary, my fine daughter…
Of course, Sunday was supposed to be her wedding day. And, as there were no soldiers or sailors to save her, future seemed dim and hopeless. But then came the Friend-in-need with a horse and a plan and an aunt in Galway.
…show your legs to the countryman.
On Sunday she disappeared before anyone noticed, and she crossed the stream, and she found her way, and she reached the town. An Aunt-in-Galway was understanding and ready to give her shelter. Of course, the Friend-in-need send her a letter, telling how everyone including her father, thought she’d drowned, but that didn’t touch her, that didn’t touch her even a little, as now she had work to do in the morning.
Oh, go home, go home, go home, Mary.
Things were going fine. She’d found a job — nothing fancy but bearable. The Friend-in-need was on her side, at first, but soon she asked her to return, as father was going mad. No.
Oh, go home and stay home, forget your sailors in Galway.
She was fair and modest in her spending, always thinking about her future. She had finally met that one sailor boy. He was broad-shouldered and witty and a bit shorter than her. She told about him to the Friend-in-need, and she answered, asking her to return, as her father had lost his mind. No.
Oh, go home, go home, go home, Mary.
In a few weeks the Friend-in-need came and brought the news of her father’s unfortunate death. She felt a little. The Friend-in-need asked why she did what she did, as she could have returned in a few days and that would be enough to teach him a lesson. She said she didn’t want to teach anyone lessons and never intended so. The Friend-in-need asked her to return for the funeral. No, things were going fine.
Go home and stay home, because your match is made.
In half a year he earned enough to move from Aunt-in-Galway and rent her own room. Her sailor boy appeared to be an aspiring journalist but that was fine.