Here's the e-mail from Debby McClatchy:

Hi Joe; words all seem fine. This is a radio ballad written by the Stanley Brothers, third verse by me. They had a weekly radio show where people sent in requests for short songs (ballads) they had written. It is one of my most poplular singalongs. The longer version has bluesy guitar, but I prefer the short with just banjo.

So, THAT's the story - Debby wrote the third verse. I found a recording by Ricky Skaggs, but it had only the first two verses. Now I know why.

-Joe-