No burial these pretty babes
Of any man receives,
Till Robin Redbreast painfully

Did cover them with leaves.

17.

And now the heavy wrath of God,
Upon their uncle fell;

Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house,
His conscience felt a hell;

His barns were fired, his goods consumed, His lands were barren made,

His cattle died within the field,

And nothing with him stayed.

18.

And in the voyage of Portugal
Two of his sons did die;

And to conclude, himself was brought,
To extreme misery.

He pawned and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven years came about:

And now at length this wicked act
Did by this means come out :

19.

The fellow that did take in hand
These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judged to die,
As was God's blessed will;
Who did confess the very truth

The which is here expressed :
Their uncle died while he for debt
In prison long did rest.

WHO fed me from her gentle breast,
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.

2.

When sleep forsook my open eye,

Who was it sung sweet lullaby,
And rocked me that I should not cry?

3.

My Mother.

Who sat and watched my infant head,
When sleeping in my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?

My Mother.

4.

When pain and sickness made me cry,

Who gazed upon my heavy eye,

And wept for fear that I should die ?

B

My Mother.

5.

Who dressed my doll in clothes so gay,
And taught me pretty how to play,

And minded all I had to say?

6.

My Mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?

7.

My Mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray,
To love God's holy Word and day,
And walk in wisdom's pleasant way?

8.

And can I ever cease to be,
Affectionate and kind to thee,

Who wast so very kind to me,

My Mother.

My Mother?

9.

Oh no! the thought I cannot bear :
And if God please my life to spare,
I hope I shall reward thy care,

10.

My Mother.

When thou art feeble, old, and gray,
My healthy arm shall be thy stay,
And I will soothe thy pains away,

My Mother.