Cat. #0182 (MFH #632) - As sung by Mrs. Tressie Rose, Gainesville, Missouri on July 1, 1958
VERSE 1
As I wandered 'round th homestead
Many a dear familiar spot
Brought within my recollection
Things I seemingly forgot
There th orchard meadow yonder
Here th deep old fashioned well
With its old moss covered bucket
Sent a thrill no tongue can tell
VERSE 2
Tho' th house was held by strangers
All remained th same within
Jest as when a child I rambled
Up and down an' out an' in
To th garrett dark ascending
Once a source of childish dread
Peering thru th misty cobwebs
Lo, I saw my trundell bed
VERSE 3
Quick I drew it from th rubbish
Covered o'er with dust so long
When behold I heard in fancy
Strains of once familiar song
Often sung by my dear Mother
To me in my trundell bed
Hush, my dear, lie still in slumber
Holy angels, guard thy bed
VERSE 4
As I listened to th music
Stealing o'er in gentle strains
I am carried back to childhood
I am now a child again
T'is the hour for my retiring
At th dusky ev'n tide
Near my Mother's knee I'm kneeling
As in yore, my Mothers side
VERSE 5
Hands are on my head, so loving
As they were in childhood day
I was weary, tones and trying
To repeat th words she said
T'is a prayer in language simple
As a Mothers lips can pray
Father, thou who art in heaven
Hallowed ever be thy name
VERSE 6
Prayer is over, to my pillow
With a goodnight kiss I creep
Scarcely waking while I whisper
Now, I lay me down to sleep
When my Mother o'er me bending
Prays in mild but earnest tone
Hear my prayer, O heavenly Father
Bless, O bless, thy precious child
VERSE 7
Yet, I know I'm only dreaming
N'er I'll be a child again
Many years has that dear Mother
In a quite graveyard lay
But her blessed angel spirit
Hovers daily o'er my head
Calling me from earth to heaven
Even from my trundell bed
Mrs. Rose said she had learned this from her Grandmother.