The Blind Childs Prayer

Cat. #0175 (MFH #45) - As sung by Ethel Hunter, Springfield, Missouri on June 29, 1958

VERSE 1
They tell me Father that tonight
You wed another bride
That you will clasp her in your arms
Where my poor Mother died

VERSE 2
That she will lay her stately head
Upon your manly breast
Where one who now lies low in death
In lifes last hours did rest

VERSE 3
They say, her name t'is Mary too
Th name my Mother bore
But Father, is she as kind and true
Like th one you loved before

VERSE 4
And is her step so soft and light
Her voice so meek and mild
And then, O Father, will she love
Your blind and helpless child

VERSE 5
Please Father, do not bid me come
To greet your lovely bride
I could not meet her in th room
Where my dear Mother died

VERSE 6
Her pictures hanging on th wall
Her books are lying there
And there's th harp that her fingers touched
And there's her vacant chair

VERSE 7
Th chair whereby her side I knelt
To say my evening prayer
O, Father it would break my heart
I could not meet her there

VERSE 8
But when I cried myself to sleep
As now I oft times do
Then softly to my chambers creep
My new Mamma and you

VERSE 9
And bid her gently press a kiss
Upon my throbbing brow
Jest as my own dear Mother did
Father, your weeping now

VERSE 10
Now, let me kneel down by your side
And to th Saviour pray
That God's right hand may lead you thru
Lifes dark dreary way

VERSE 11
Th prayer was uttered and she said,
Papa, I'm weary now
He gently raised her in his arms
And laid her on th bed

VERSE 12
Then as he turned to leave th room
One joyful cry was given
He turned to catch th last sweet smile
But th blind child was in heaven

VERSE 13
They laid her by her Mothers side
And raised a marble fair
An' on it's engraved these simple words,
There'll be no blind ones there

Variants