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I watched a very old man walk down the street
Ragged and torn as could be.
He suddenly stumbled by the wayside
Fomr lack of food I could see,
I looked into his unshaved face
And walked over near where he lay.
He said, "Sit down near me, my friend;
I'll tell you why I'm here this way.
"I once had a wife and family
As nice as could be found.
They all were very true to me
Till I started roaming around.
My little boy's name was Bob,
And my daughter's name was Pearl.
Bob was an awfully good boy,
And my daughter was a mighty fine girl.
"One night while I was sitting in a tavern
Drunk, without a friend and all alone,
Someone said that Pearl was sick.
'Go home and care for your own.'
I was too drunk to care just then,
And I didn't get home till late.
So God called my little girl away
Just as I reached the gate.
"When they told me she had died,
I passed out by the gate.
I left home when I woke up;
I've never been back since that date.
I've been a drunkard all my life,
And I'll soon be entering Hell,
Satan opening up those gates
And ringing that great bell.
"Wine, liquor, and cigarettes, my friend,
Never touch that awful stuff,
Get saved and be a Christian now,
And life won't be half as rough.
I know because I've seen others,
But I was under a spell.
Now I'm starting on my last journey
Toward that bottomless pit called Hell."
His breath it all soon left him,
And he lay limp in my arms.
I poured my soul out to God right there,
And He's laid low all life's alarms.
I often remember this old man
As they laid him in the sod.
Now I'm ninety-seven years old,
And I'm still working for God.
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