1. While strolling along with the city's vast throng, On a
night that was bitterly cold, . . . . I noticed a crowd who were
laughing aloud At something they chanc'd to behold. . . . I
stopped for to see what the object could be, And there, on a
door-step, lay . . . . A woman in tears, from the
crowd's angry jeers And then I heard somebody say: . . . .
2. If we could but tell why the poor creature fell, Per-
haps we'd be not so severe; . . . . If the truth were but known of this
outcast alone, May-hap we would all shed a tear. . . . She was
once someone's joy, cast aside like a toy, Abandoned, for-
saken, unknown. . . . . Ev'ry man standing by had a
tear in his eye, For some had a daughter at home. . . .
3. The crowd went away, but I longer did stay; For from
her I was loath to depart. . . . . I knew by her moan, as she
sat there alone, That something was breaking her heart. . . . . She
told me her life, she was once a good wife, Respected and
honored by all; . . . . Her husband had fled Ere
they were long wed, And tears down her cheeks sadly fall.
She may have seen better days, . . . When she was in her prime; . . .
She may have seen better days, . . . . Once upon a
time. Tho' by the wayside she fell,
She may yet mend her ways. . . . Some poor old mother is
waiting for her Who has seen better days. . . .
night that was bitterly cold, . . . . I noticed a crowd who were
laughing aloud At something they chanc'd to behold. . . . I
stopped for to see what the object could be, And there, on a
door-step, lay . . . . A woman in tears, from the
crowd's angry jeers And then I heard somebody say: . . . .
2. If we could but tell why the poor creature fell, Per-
haps we'd be not so severe; . . . . If the truth were but known of this
outcast alone, May-hap we would all shed a tear. . . . She was
once someone's joy, cast aside like a toy, Abandoned, for-
saken, unknown. . . . . Ev'ry man standing by had a
tear in his eye, For some had a daughter at home. . . .
3. The crowd went away, but I longer did stay; For from
her I was loath to depart. . . . . I knew by her moan, as she
sat there alone, That something was breaking her heart. . . . . She
told me her life, she was once a good wife, Respected and
honored by all; . . . . Her husband had fled Ere
they were long wed, And tears down her cheeks sadly fall.
She may have seen better days, . . . When she was in her prime; . . .
She may have seen better days, . . . . Once upon a
time. Tho' by the wayside she fell,
She may yet mend her ways. . . . Some poor old mother is
waiting for her Who has seen better days. . . .