Collected by Iola Stone For Mary Celestia Parler Transcribed by Iola Stone
Sung by Mrs. Susie Wasson Springdale, Arkansas July 25, 1959
Reel 283, Item 5
The Blind Girl
They say dear father that tonight you'll wed another bride,
That you will clasp her in your arms where my dear mother died.
That she will lay her graceful head upon your manly breast,
Where she who now lies cold in death in life’s last hours did wrest.
They say her name is Mary too, the name my Mother bore,
And Father is she kind and true like her you loved before.
And is her steps so soft and light, her voice so sweet and mild,
And do you think that she will love your blind and helpless child.
Her picture hanging on the wall, her books are lying there,
And there's the harp her fingers plucked, and there's her vacant chair. The chair by her side I knelt to say my evening prayer,
Oh Father it would break my heart, I could not meet her there.
Oh Father do not bid me come, to meet your loving bride,
I could not meet her in the room where dear Mother died.
And then he turned to leave the room a joyous cry was given,
He turned and caught the last sweet smile, the blind girl was in heaven.
They laid her by her mother's side, and placed a marble fair,
And on it were the simple words:
There'll be no blind ones there.