Hug me closer, mother, closer
Put your arms around me tight
For I am cold and tired dear mother
Yet, I feel so strong tonight
Something hurts me here dear mother
Like a stone upon my breast
Oh I wonder, mother, wonder
Why it is I cannot rest
All the day while you were working
As I lay upon my bed
I was trying to be patient
And to think of what you said
How the king, dear blessed Jesus
Loves his lambs to watch and keep
Oh, I wish he would come and take me
In his arms that I might sleep
Just before the lamps were lighted
Just before the children came
While the room was very quiet
I heard someone call my name
All at once a window opened
On a field of lambs and sheep
Some far out in a brook were drinking
Some were lying fast asleep
In a moment I was looking
On a world so bright and fair
Which was filled with little children
And they seemed so happy there
They were singing oh so sweetly
Sweetest songs I ever heard
They were singing sweeter, mother
Than our darling little birds
But I could not see the savior
Tho' I strained my eyes to see
And I wondered if he saw me
Would he speak to such as me
All at once a window opened
One so bright upon me smiled
And I knew it must be Jesus
When he said, come here my child
Come up here my little bessie
Come up here and live with me
Where little children never suffer
Never suffer through eternity
Then I thought of all you'd told me
Of that bright and happy land
I was going when you called me
When you came and kissed my hand
And at first I felt so sorry
You had called and I would go
Oh, to sleep and never suffer
Mother, don't be crying so
Hug me closer, mother, closer
Put your arms around me tight
Oh, how much I love you, mother
And how strong I feel tonight
And the mother pressed her closer
To her own dear burdened breast
On the heart so near its breaking
Lay the heart so near its rest
At the solemn hour of midnight
In the darkness calm, and deep
Lying on her mother's bosom
Little bessie fell asleep
