Posted by Jeffrey on July 29, 1998 at 05:03:44:
In Reply to: Re: ...LITTLE JIM... posted by Byron on July 29, 1998 at 04:39:07:
: : Little Jim
: : The cottage was a thatched one,
: : The outside old and mean
: : Yet everything within that cot
: : Was wondrous neat and clean.
: : The night was dark and stormy,
: : The wind was howling wild;
: : A patient mother knelt beside
: : The death bed of her child.
: : A little worn out creature,
: : His once bright eyes grown dim;
: : It was a colliers only child
: : They called him Little Jim.
: : And oh! to see the briny tears
: : Fast hurrying down her cheeks,
: : As she offered up, a prayer in thought,
: : She was afraid to speak,
: : Lest she might waken one she loved:
: : Far better than her life;
: : For there was all a mothers love,
: : In that poor colliers wife.
: : With hands uplifted, see, she kneels
: : Besides the sufferers bed;
: : And prays that He will spare her boy,
: : And take herself instead.
: : She gets her answer from the child,
: : Soft fell these words from him,
: : Mother, the angels do so smile,
: : And beckon Little Jim.
: : I have no pain, dear mother, now,
: : But Oh , I am so dry;
: : Just moisten poor Jim's lips again
: : And, Mother, don1t you cry.
: : With gentle trembling haste she held
: : The tea cup to his lips;
: : He smiled to thank her as he took
: : Three tiny little sips.
: : Tell Father when he comes from work,
: : I said Good Night to him;
: : And mother, now I1ll go to sleep
: : Alas poor little Jim.
: : She saw that he was dying
: : The child she loved so dear
: : Had uttered the last words that she
: : Might ever hope to hear.
: : The cottage door was open,
: : The colliers step is heard;
: : The Father and the Mother meet,
: : Yet neither speak a word.
: : He knew that all was over,
: : He knew his child was dead;
: : He took the candle in his hand
: : And walked towards the bed.
: : His quivering lips gave token
: : Of the grief he1d failed to conceal
: : And see his wife has joined him,
: : The stricken couple kneel.
: : With hearts bowed down with sadness
: : They humbly asked of Him,
: : In heaven ,once more to meet again
: : Their own poor Little Jim.
: : End.
: : Partly of life1s experience and partly of something remembered I write to relieve, selfishly myself.
: What of Billy? Am I bold to say this happened?
In the land where Angels dwell .... to complete yours.......