Song 95. To the tune of "Come Home Father"

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!

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!

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 to-night?"
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!


From The Temperance Songster; a Collection of Songs and Hymns for All Temperance Societies at the Library of Congress, at


from

dig.lib.niu.edu/teachers/l3-songgroup.doc