Little Blossom

Cat. #0665 (MFH #385) - As sung by Paralee Weddingon, Busch, Arkansas on February 4, 1969

VERSE 1
O dear, I'se so tird an' so lonesome
I wonder why Mamma don't come
She told me to shut-up my blue eyes
An' before I'd waked up she be home

VERSE 2
She said, she was going to see Grandma
She lives by th river so bright
I s'pect that my Mamma fell in there
An' perhaps she won't be home tonight

VERSE 3
I guess I'm afraid to stay up here
Without any fire or light
But God's lighted th lamps up in Heaven
I see them all twinkiling and bright

VERSE 4
I'll think I'll go down an' meet Papa
I suppose he has stopped at th store
Its a great pretty store full of bottles
An' I wish he would'nt go there any more

VERSE 5
Sometimes when he's sick, when he comes home
And he stumbles an' falls up th stairs
An' once't when he come in th parlor
He kicked at my poor little chair

VERSE 6
An' Mamma was all pale and frightened
An' hugged me up close to her breast
And called me her poor little blossom
An' I guess I forgotten th rest

VERSE 7
But I 'member that Papa was angry
His face was so red and so wild
An' I 'member he striked at poor Mamma
An' hurted his poor little child

VERSE 8
But I love hime and I guess I'll go find him
Perhaps he'll come home with me soon
And then it won't be dark an' lonely
Waiting for Mamma to come

VERSE 9
Out into th night went th baby
Her little heart beating with fright
Till th tired feet reached th grim palace
All radiant with music an' light

VERSE 10
Th litlle hand pushed th door open
Tho' her touch was as light as a breath
Th little feet entered th portals
That leads to but ruin and death

VERSE 11
O Papa, she cried, as she reached him
And her voice trickled out sweet an' clear
I thought If I com'ed I could find you
And I'se so glad you is here

VERSE 12
Th lights are so pretty, dear Papa
An' I think that th music so sweet
But I guess it's most supper time, Papa
For Blossom wants something to eat

VERSE 13
A moment th very eyes gazed wildly
Down into th face sweet and fair
And then as the demon posessed him
He grasped at th back of th chair

VERSE 14
A moment, th second was over
Th work of a fien complete
An' poor little innocent Blossom
Lay quivering and crushed at his feet

VERSE 15
Then swift as th light, came his reason
And showed him th deed he had done
With a groan that th Devil might pity
He knelt by th quivering form

VERSE 16
He pressed th pale face to his bosom
He lifted th fair golden head
A moment th babies lips trembled
An' poor little Blosom was dead

VERSE 17
Then in came th law, so majestic
And said, with his life he must pay
That only a fien or a mad man
Could murder a child in that way

VERSE 18
But th man who had sold him th poison
That made him a demon of hell
Why, he must be loved and respected
Because he has license to sell

VERSE 19
He may rob you of friends an of money
Send you to prediction and woe
But as long as he pays for his license
Th law must protect him you know

VERSE 20
God pity th women and children
Who are under th dures rum
An' hasten th day when __ __
Niether heart, voice or pen shall be done

Variants