There's a little rosewood casket
Resting on a marble stand
With a package of love letters
Written by my true love's hand
Will you go and bring them, sister,
Will you read them o'er to me
I have often tried but could not,
For through tears I could not see
Read each precious line so slowly,
That you may not miss a one
For the precious hand that wrote them,
His last work for me is done
You have got them now, dear sister
Come sit down upon my bed
And press gently to your bosom
This poor throbbing, aching head
Tell him that I never blamed him
Not an unkind word was spoke
Tell, oh tell him, sister, tell him
That my heart in coldness broke
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Tell him that I never blamed him
Though to me he proved untrue
Tell him that I'll ne'er forget him
Though I bid this world adieu
When I'm dead and in my coffin
And my shroud's around me bound
And my narrow grave is ready
In the cold and silent ground
Place his letters and his locket
Close together o'er my heart
And the little ring he gave me
From my finger never part
You have finished now, dear sister
Will you read them o'er again
While I listen to you read them
I will lose all sign of pain
While I listen to you read them
I will gently fall asleep
Fall asleep to wake with Jesus
Darling sister, do not weep.
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