An’ hard my han’s, an’ bent my back,

An’ mos’ly shadows on de way

Hab followed dis yere form ob clay?

What ef, despised by brudder man,

I jes works on de bes’ I can,

An’ toilin’ airly, toilin’ late,

For arthly joys I’s long to wait?

I knows some time dis face ob min’

As white as Jesus’ robe will shine,

For He, oh, He’s my Mahstah!