What will the birds do mother in the spring
Will they gather the crumbs around my door
Will they fly through the trees at the window each day
Askin' why Joe wanders out no more

And what will the kitten do mother all alone
Will he stop from his frolic for a day
Will he lie on the rug by the side of my bed
Like he did before I went away

What will Thomas the old gardener say
When you ask him for flowers for me
Will he give you a bud he has tended with care
The first fairest bloom on the tree

I could see the teardrops there in his honest old eyes
He said it was the wind that brought 'em there
As he gazed on my cheeks growing paler each day
His hand trembled over my hair

Keep Tag mother my poor little dog
I know he'll mourn for me too
Keep him but blind and useless he grows
Sleepin' the whole summer through

Show him my coat mother so he won't forget
That his master then will be dead
Speak to him kindly and often of Joe
Pat him on his brown shaggy head

And you dearest mother will miss me a while
But in heaven I shall no larger grow
And an angel will know when you ask at the gate
When you ask for your darlin' little Joe