The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-03-13
The Murderer's Dream.

I'm thinking tonight of the past, Bill.
or the days when we were young,
When we heard at home, on that dear old hill
These wonderful verses sung:
But of all sad words of tongue pen,
The saddest are these, 'it might have been'.''
I'm thinking, too, of the time when we
Might have gone to that school-house nigh,
Where We heard the boys in their youthful glee,
But now only sigh:
''For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, 1T might have been',
Had needed the lessons might have learned,
As those boyhood days passed,
My mind, my labors, L could have turned
T. some good account at last.
But of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, ut might have BEEN"
had some friends when I was boy,
They were kind to me, thought,
For they'd come with gifts and Christmas toy,
And useful presents they brought.
But of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, sit might have BEEN"
But scorned their advice, needed it not,
And disobeyed evrey rule,
Till find myself brougt down to naught,
In sad experiences school.
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, "It might have been"
And though dishonest in ali the past,
surely must honest be now;
For the breaker of law is compelled at last,
To Its awful penalty to bow.
But of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest these, ut might have becI,''
In learning these things, was not long:
To cheat and steal and lie,
My conscience told me all was wrong,
But passed my conscience by.
Now of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, sit might have been.''
gambled and drank wantoned the night,
Yes thousands of mean things did,
And when found it within my might
My meanness 1 always hid.
But of all sad words of tongue pen
The saddest are these, 1T might have been.'
man who is base, and never does right,
But forever and ever seeks wrong,
By some wretched deed will come to the light,
Ere his deeds keep him company long.
Then of all sad words of tongue pen,
The saddest are these, sit might have been.''
For men who will pilfer and cheat and will lie,
VIII do the worst thing may be done,
And the saddest of all, they will by and by,
Take the life of some innocent one,
But of all the sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, SIT might have been.''
thoufht was dreaming tonight brother,
And it was oHly a dream to me,
But for some strange reason or other,
feel that I'm hardly free.
Now of all sad words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these, SIT might have BEEN"
Alas, o God it is no dream,
The things I've been telling real;
My crime is the foulsst, howe'er 1t may seem,
And my destiny, forever will seal.
Oh! of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are the these, SIT might have been."
Not kindlfest laws. hut the iron bars
Are my only keepers now,
And earths very toughest and hardest jars,
To mans iron will, must bow.
But of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these. "Itmight have been.''
For out this dark and gloomy place,
Unjust be led tomorrow,
To look an anxious world in the face,
In my endless shameful sorrow.
But Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, at might have been."
And when the jailer leads me out,
And stands me on the scaffold,
I'll feel up there mid jeer and fout.
My earthly hopes are batfled,
Then of all sad words of tongue pen,
The saddest are these, SIT might have been.''
When the rope is fastened strong and well,
And all the crowd look on,
I'll launch right off to the murderer's hell
Where all the murderers have gone.
Oh! of all sad words of tongue pen,
The saddest these, 1T might have been"
boys! young men! beware, beware,
And heed kind warnings voice,
Before your lot is the murderer's share,
By right, if not by choice.
For of all sad words of tongue pen,
The saddest these, st might have BEEN"
1t may seem hard In the strife and toll,
By homer to gain life's needs;
1t may seem sad to struggle and moil
For all onr temp'ral needs;
But of all sad words of tnpgue pen,
The saddest are these, sit might have beep,"
G. ATEN