123
"Bear witness ye, dear friends, that round me stand,
And strive to stay me with affection's hand;
Ye who now wipe the death-damps from my brow,
And mourn my fate with unavailing woe:
And strive to stay me with affection's hand;
Ye who now wipe the death-damps from my brow,
And mourn my fate with unavailing woe:
"Bear witness I forgive him, pitying heav'n,
Oh! may thy saving grace to him be giv'n,
That he may tread again that blessed track,
To which I fondly hop'd to bring him back.
Oh! may thy saving grace to him be giv'n,
That he may tread again that blessed track,
To which I fondly hop'd to bring him back.
"And now, farewell, dear friends, unto your care
I leave my babes—and may th' Almighty spare
Your lives to be the guardians of their youth,
To lead them in the holy paths of truth.
I leave my babes—and may th' Almighty spare
Your lives to be the guardians of their youth,
To lead them in the holy paths of truth.
"Oh! may they never leave this happy home,
From which young love first tempted me to roam;
From which young love first tempted me to roam;
