Cat. #0427 (MFH #409) - As sung by Mrs. George Ripley, Milford, Missouri on November 21, 1959
VERSE 1
Young men, young men, come learn of me
My sad an' mournful history
An', may you n'er forgetful be
Of all this day, I tell to thee
VERSE 2
Before I reached my fifthteenth year
My Mother an' my Father dear
Were both laid in their silent graves
By Him who them their being gave
VERSE 3
No more had I a Fathers care
No more did I their blessings share
No more was I a Mothers joy
I was a poor helpless orphan boy
VERSE 4
Beneath my Uncles humble nook
From want an' danger for a look
Nine years was I most kindly reared
Off'en his kind advice I heard
VERSE 5
But I was thoughtless, young an' gay
An' often broke th sabbath day
I joined a gang in wickedness
An' Satan served, with eagerness
VERSE 6
At last arrived th fatal day
When from my home I ran away
An' to my sorrow, since in life
I took unto myself, a wife
VERSE 7
An' she was kind an' good to me
As any woman need to be
An' yet, her life would a been, no doubt
Had I never seen, Miss Heppie Shout
VERSE 8
T'was love for her that stole my will
An' caused me, my dear wife to kill
VERSE 9
T'was on a pleasant summers night
When all was still an' th stars shone bright
My wife was lying on her bed
When I aproached to her an' said
VERSE 10
Here wife, here wife is medicene
I bought an' brought this day, for you
To cure you of those violent fits
O, take it, o, pray take it dear
VERSE 11
She gave to me a tender look
And in her mouth, th poison took
Down on her bed, down by her babe
Down to her long last sleep, she laid
VERSE 12
My heart was then filled full of woe
It's whether now, where can I go
How can I quit this mournful place
This world again how can I face
VERSE 13
I'd freely give up all my store
Had I a thousand pounds or more
If I could bring again to life
My dear, my darling, murdered wife
VERSE 14
Her bodies now beneath th sod
Her soul I trust, is with its God
An' soon into eternity
My guilty soul will also be
VERSE 15
Young men, young men, be warned by me
An' shun all evil company
Walk in th path of rightousness
An' God your soul will surely bless