Classic Poem

'Tis the
Song of little Mary ,
Standing at the bar-room door ,
While the shameful midnight revel
Rages wildly as before .

Father, dear father, come home with me now!
The clock in the steeple strikes one;
You said you were coming right home from the shop,
As soon as your day's work was done.
Our fire has gone out — our house is all dark —
And mother's been watching since tea,
With poor brother Benny so sick in her arms,
And no one to help her but me.
Come home! come home! come home!
Please , father, dear father, come home.

Hear the sweet voice of the child
Which the night-winds repeat as they roam!
Oh who could resist this most plaintive of prayers?
" Please, father, dear father, come home! "

Father, dear father, come home with me now!
The clock in the steeple strikes two;
The night has grown colder, and Benny is worse —
But he has been calling for you.
Indeed he is worse — Ma says he will die,
Perhaps before morning shall dawn;
And this is the message she sent me to bring —
" Come quickly, or he will be gone. "
Come home! come home! come home!
Please , father, dear father, come home.

Chorus

Father, dear father, come home with me now!
The clock in the steeple strikes three;
The house is so lonely — the hours are so long
For poor weeping mother and me.
Yes, we are alone — poor Benny is dead,
And gone with the angels of light;
And these were the very last words that he said —
" I want to kiss Papa good night. "
Come home! come home! come home!
Please , father, dear father, come home.

Chorus