Paul Dresser — On the Banks of the Wabash

Round my Indiana homestead wave the cornfields In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool Oftentimes my thoughts revert to scenes of childhood Where I first received my lessons Nature’s school But one thing there is missing in the picture; Without her face it seems so incomplete I long to see my mother in the doorway As she stood there years ago her boy to greet Oh, the moonlight’s fair tonight along the Wabash; From the fields there comes the breath of new-mown hay Through the sycamores the candlelights are gleaming On the banks of the Wabash, far away Many years have passed since I strolled by the river Arm in arm, with sweetest Mary by my side It was there I tried to tell her that I loved her; It was there I begged of her to be my bride Long years have passed since I strolled thro’ the churchyard She’s sleeping there, my angel, Mary dear I loved her but she thought I didn’t mean it Still I’d give my future were she only here