The Mother’s Goodbye

Sit down by the side of your mo­ther

my boy

You have on­ly a mo­ment

I know;

But you’ll stay till I give you

My part­ing ad­vice

’Tis all that I have to be­stow.

You leave us to seek for em­ploy­ment

my boy

By the world you have yet to be tried;

But in all the temp­ta­tions and strug­gles you meet

May your heart in the Sav­ior con­fide.

Hold fast to the right

Hold fast to the right

Wherever your foots­teps may roam;

O for­sake not the way of sal­va­tion

my boy

That you learned from your mo­ther at home.

You’ll find in your satch­el a Bi­ble

my boy

’Tis the book of all oth­ers the best;

It will teach you to live

It will help you to die

And lead to the gates of the blest.

I gave you to God

in your cra­dle

my boy

I have taught you the best that I knew;

And as long as His mer­cy per­mits me to live

I shall nev­er cease pray­ing for you.

Your fa­ther is com­ing to bid you good­bye

O how lone­ly and sad we shall be;

But when far from the scenes

Of your child­hood and youth

You’ll think of your fa­ther and me.

I want you to feel ev­ery word I have said

For it came from the depths of my love;

And

my boy

if we nev­er be­hold you on earth

Will you pro­mise to meet us above?