A mother's ever watchful eye
Discovered her daughter's shame,
Heard her story with breaking heart,
But uttered no word of blame.
She knew her daughter's downfall
Was the fruit of love beguiled,
But hated the heartless stranger
Who ruined her trusting child.
God alone can measure the pain
That child and mother felt,
As, locked in lingering embrace,
In agony they knelt
And poured in heaven's listening ear
Their heart-destroying grief;
And who so bold as to deny
That Heaven sent relief?
The father learned his daughter's sin
And drove her from his door.
"Go!" he said, "you guilty wretch,
You are my child no more."