I never shall forget that sweet face at the gate,

voiceColl. by M.C. Parler Sung by Mrs. Della Kerr DeValls Bluff, Ark. Nov. 13, 1953 Reel 171 Item 1 Little Bessie Some carriers were lounging in the swing room down below, And stories they were telling such as carriers only know. But one of them was silent, and a tear was in his eye; The others laughed and said they hoped the brother would not cry. "Oh, yes, I'm tender-hearted," and he spoke most tenderly, "But there's a wee tot on my route who's lying dead," said he, "Her mother died some time ago, and Bessie thought that I Would bring to her a letter from her Mama in the sky. Refrain: I never shall forget that sweet face at the gate, My heart is sad whene'er the story I relate, So many times she said to me, while tears came to her eye, 'Oh, haven't you a letter from Mama in the sky?' "She seemed so very playful and from me she'd often hide, She seemed so very happy, too, before her mother died, Five golden curls have hid from view that winsome little face, No artist howe'er gifted could such lines of beauty trace. One day I missed the little one, a red flag hung outside, A dread disease had stricken her, and yesterday she died, She whispered to her father as she closed her weary eyes, 'He's brought the letter, Papa dear, from Mama in the skies.' RefrainFunding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation