"Seven Lives for You"

Do you ever wonder, Dear, When you see the children here, Why you never joined their play? Why you never saw the day? Why the golden sun above Never touched your cheek, my Love? Why those little lives are gay While you lie beneath the grave? Oh my dearest little child! How I wish that you were here! How I wish to see your smile And catch each precious tear! But gone you are, gone forever And I the one to blame Young I was, and foolish yes! As I recall with shame I will tell you all, my love Though it grieves my heart to say How I, by wild passion drove, To have my child by others slain But, my child, you did die Not for naught, but for a cause For though, beneath the ground you lie Seven others stand by your side Not in graves beneath the frost But alive with thankful hearts For they know what it cost For you to die that they might live Seven lives for your dear one Seven lives for you! It was with pain I did perceive That darling child I had conceived Was gone forever with my leave It was with guilty shame I thought I was to black with grievous fault To be of use to anyone To have a saintly crown be won I thought your precious life was wasted Because the cup of vice I tasted “But then,” thought I. “If eye for eye And tooth for tooth Then may it be not life for life?” And so I gave my strength, my soul To make another live and whole And when I saw that blessed child Safe from murderous hands so nigh Came to my ear straight from above “Not life for life but life for love” And thus it came to be, my child— You in Heaven all the while— I below in penance toiling Oh! Those murderous hands foiling So six more could come to birth To live upon this glorious earth And learn to thank one whose life been told Was ‘nough to make their mothers bold For they all know that your life gave That seven more have hence been saved Seven lives for your dear one! Seven lives for your dear one! Not for naught, your life did give For it is by your death they live Seven lives for you dear one! Seven lives for you!