The Sand Boy

This story is based on Historical notes on Diss, 1982, by A Norfolk and J Spiers from research by A Cushing.

When I read a story from history, I always ask myself what caused this or that to happen. Sometimes an extra character is required for everything to make sense. In this case, Louie had to have a son…

Verse 1

A fragment of an old clay pipe, dug up from my garden

Echoes of an ancient tale, murder, jail and pardon

The facts seem very strange today, in the times of plenty

Things were very different then, back in eighteen-twenty

Verse 2

In the Norfolk town of Diss lived a girl named Louie

Her husband, Bryant, was London-bound and left her to her ruin

The son she bore was small and bright, together both contented

‘Til a cruel man came her way, a meeting she repented

Chorus

The ladies of the town used to give a frown

Looking at the lad so small

That turned into a grin, sipping on their gin

Gazing at his picture on the wall

Verse 3

Like Dickens’ villain, the foul Bill Sykes, this man, his name was Kerry

Used the lad to rob the rich while they were making merry

Sand-boy at the Saracens Head, he taught him how to listen

Revelers, on returning home, found their silver missing

Verse 4

But, Kerry’s greed it knew no bounds, he used Louie badly

Her efforts to protect her son, ended soon quite sadly

He met her in a quiet lane. She saw his pipe a-glowing

“The lad could hang if he’s found out!” She sealed her fate by knowing

The ladies of the town… Verse 5

She went prepared, she knew him well, a dagger in her jacket

Alas too slow, he caught her arm, the end was quick and tragic

And then he raised the hue and cry, gave a full description

Of the father to her son, she’d spoke of with affection

Verse 6

Then, from London, Bryant was brought, but freed without condition

Her corpse he touched, no blood there came, trial by superstition

Friends of Louie, ladies all, of doubtful reputation

Using contacts, gave the lad a basic education

The ladies of the town… Verse 7

The years rolled by, the lad he grew handsome and intelligent

The listener’s art he’d learned in crime, he put to sound investment

A trust was formed, at first for him and later for the ladies

His wealth it grew, and status too, a civic dignitary

Verse 8

Fate caught up with Kerry soon, whilst in Norwich prison

He met a man more mean than he, who throttled him a-sleeping

History does not know the lad, nowhere records his name

The spot whereon his mother died is known as Louie’s Lane

The ladies of the town… End