p. 12 | TEACH BABY I'M DEAD by Mrs. Henderson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 24, 1900

"TEACH BABY I'M DEAD."

By Mrs. Henderson

[A scene at Lansing, Mich.]

SHE was on her knees at the convict's feet, A bride of only one year before. He held in his arms an infant sweet, Too young to know of the grief they bore, Too young to care, too very young To know when the velvet lips were pressed, But the convict still to his baby clung, And held it close to his throbbing breast.

In vain he spoke kind words to cheer The broken heart of his fair young wife; But she sobbed and wept with bitter tears, For vanished hopes, and a ruined life. The convict knew of the wreck he'd made, "I know my sentence is just," he said, "Don't cloud her days with this blighting shade; Teach our baby that I am dead."

"Don't let our babe, our darling, know Her father fell to this black abyss; Don't let it know that one so low Sought its lips for a loving kiss; For black is the stain of slanderers vile, Swift the arrow of scorn." He plead, "Don't cloud the life of our little child; Teach our baby that I am dead."

He sadly gazed on the form at his feet. Who could have dealt a deadlier blow To a fair young life, so pure and sweet? He thought of shame—"It lingers so," He murmured. "Joys, how quick they flee! Look up, my wife, once more," he plead. But she sobbed the more as she heard the plea: "Teach our baby that I am dead."

"I'm tortured so by this sad mistake; I've slain us both. 'Tis true! 'tis true! O, won't you rally for baby's sake? See! now there's no one left but you. When hope is gone, work is a task; But won't you pray for me?" he said. "Forgive me, too, 'tis all I ask; And teach the baby that I am dead."

Then kindly the warden asked them to part. A wail, a lull, and the curtains fell. She took the babe, and the convict's heart, And left her own in the prison cell. The bells rang out o'er tower and lea; Each peal brought back with funeral tread The sorrowing sobs and piteous plea, "Teach the baby that I am dead." Leavenworth City, Kan. MRS. HENDERSON.