Darling Little Joe

[Verse] What will the birds do, mother, in the spring The little brown birds around the door Will they fly from the trees and tap at my window Asking why Joe wanders out no more What will the kitten do, mother, all alone Will it stop from its frolics for a day Will it lie on its rug by the side of my bed As it did before I went away Keep Tige, dearest mother, my poor little dog For I know that he'll mourn for me, too Keep him when old and useless he grows Sleeping all the long summer through Show him my coat, mother, so he'll not forget Little master who will then be dead Speak to him kindly and often of Joe And pat him on his shaggy head What will Thomas the old gardener say When you ask him for a flower for me Will he give you a rose he has tended with care The first, fairest bloom of the tree And you, dearest mother, will miss me for a while Though in heaven I'll larger grow Any kind angel will tell you at the gate When you ask for your darling, Little Joe