My Mother Dear

There was a place in child­hood

That I re­me­mber well;

And there a voice of sweet­est tone

Bright fai­ry tales did tell;

And gen­tle words and fond em­brace

Were giv’n with joy to me

When I was in that hap­py place

Upon my mo­ther’s knee.

My mo­ther dear

my mo­ther dear

My gen­tle

gen­tle mo­ther.

When fai­ry tales were end­ed

Good night

she soft­ly said

And kissed

and laid me down to sleep

Within my ti­ny bed;

And ho­ly words she taught me there;

Methinks I yet can see

Her an­gel eye

as close I knelt

Beside my mo­ther’s knee

My mo­ther dear

my mo­ther dear

My gen­tle

gen­tle mo­ther.

In sick­ness of my child­hood

The per­ils of my prime

The sor­rows of my rip­er years

The cares of ev­ery time:

When doubt and dan­ger weighed me down

Then plead­ing all for me

It was a fer­vent prayer to Heav’n

That bent my mo­ther’s knee.

My mo­ther dear

my mo­ther dear

My gen­tle

gen­tle mo­ther.