And how are you living, mother; how'll you live?'

'It's what I'd saved to put me in the tomb,

I'll want no tomb but what the parish give.'

'Mother, I lied to you that time, O forgive,

I brought home half my wages, half I spent,

And you went short that week to pay the rent.

I went to see'r, I spent my money on her,

And you who bore me paid the cost in pain.

You went without to buy the clothes upon her:

A hat, a locket, and a silver chain.