C                      F             C
What will the birds do mother in the spring
                                           G7
When they stop to gather crumbs around the door
C                            F
Will they fly from the trees and tap at my window
G7                            C
Asking why Joe wanders out no more

C                     F             C
What will the kitten do mother all alone
                                     G7
Will he stop from his frolics for a day
C                         F
Will he lie on his rug by the side of my bed
G7                      C
As he did before I went away

C                      F            C
What will Thomas that old gardener say
                                 G7
When you ask him for flowers for me
C                          F
Will he give you a rose he has tended with care
G7                             C
The first fairest bloom of the tree

C                         F              C
I have seen the tears in his honest old eyes
                                              G7
But he said it was the wind that brought them there
C                                F
As he gazed on my cheeks growing paler each day
G7                                     C
And his hand went trembling through my hair

C                    F           C
Keep tied mother my poor little dog
                              G7
For I know he'll mourn for me too
C                          F
Just keep him when old and useless he grows
G7                        C
Sleeping the whole summer through

C                        F            C
Show him my coat mother so he'll not forget
                            G7
His master who then will be dead
C                        F
Just speak to him kindly and often of Joe
G7                              C
And pat him on his brown shaggy head

C                           F             C
And you dearest mother may miss me for a while
                             G7
But in heaven I'll no larger grow
C                       F
And any kind angel will know at the gate
G7                                   C
When you ask for your darling little Joe