Oh who could tell a mother's thought,

voiceCollected by M.C. Parler Sung by Bessie Atchley Transcribed by Bessie Atchley Green Forest, Arkansas July 7, 1960 Reel 387, Item 6 Gambling on the Sabbath Day Oh who could tell a mother's thought, When this sad news to her was brought That her son had been caught And into prison he was brought. A mother sixty years of age In council she is now engaged To see if something could be dene To save her boy, her only son. But nothing could the council do The witnesses were all too true, They proved to him, it was too plain He never could be free again. My gray haired mother, now good-bye Just one short hour till I must die From your advice I strayed away And gambled on the sabbath day. My darling sister now farewell With my redeemer I soon shall dwell My soul shall fill eternal hell. Oh! darling sister now farewell. Oh! yonder stands my little wife, She's prayed for me all through her life And from her side I strayed sway And gambled on the sabbath day. My darling, come lay your head here And let me see each falling tear, The time has come for me to die, It breaks my heart to hear you cry.These cruel men will take my life Take me from you, my darling wife. I leave to you one precious joy. And that's our darling baby boy. Teach him, wife, to think of me On earth wherever he may be, And every night to kneel and pray That we may meet in heaven some day. Teach him, wife, what he must do Teach him to love and care for you. And from your aide to never stray Or gamble on the sabbath day. The sheriff out the slender cord Bis soul had gone to its reward His spirit from this world had fled The doctor said," This wretch is dead." The gray haired mother prayed aloud That God might save the gambling crowd, That they might not be cast away For gambling on the sabbath day.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation