PRISONER AT THE BAR II

The judge was there, the jury too
An' people from afar
A fair young lad, in tender youth
Was prisoner at the bar
The great courthouse was crowded
With a large an' anxious throng
An' many a heart was aching
For the boy accused of wrong

A maiden fair, with golden hair
Crept softly through the crowd
The people gazed with wandering eyes
Spoke not a word aloud
An' stepping to the jury box
One moment she did pause
Then smiling thru her tears she said,
Judge, let me plead his cause

Now, judge, your mind must wander back
To those long years gone by
An' see your sweetheart an' yourself
Just like this lad and I
If you don't mean to ruin my life
Don't say that we must part
Remember judge, your own dear wife
Was once your own sweetheart

Next Sunday is our wedding day
An' dreams of future life
Then, to the altar we will go
To make me his darling wife
Unless you mean to break my heart
If you send this boy away
*
*

The judge rose slowly from his seat
The room was still as death
An' stepping to the jury box
With a faltering breath he said,
I have a little girl, at home
With just such baby eyes
With piece of mercy scattered here
Will flourish in the skies

The jury did not leave the room
For they had quickly agreed
The foreman briefly signed the note
An' gave the clerk, to read
Not guilty was the only words
This maiden heard them say
Her lover clasped her in his arms
The boy passed away


* Two lines appear to be missing from this verse

SOURCE:
The Max Hunter Folksong Collection; http://www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/0487/index.html