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Rudyard Kipling - Old Mother Laidinwool
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Old Mother Laidinwool had nigh twelve months been dead.
She heard the hops was doing well, an` so popped up her head
For  said  she:  "The  lads  I`ve picked  with  when  I  was young and fair,
They`re bound to be  at hopping and  I`m bound to meet `em  there!"

                Let me up and go
                Back to the work I know, Lord!
                Back to the work I know, Lord!
                For it is dark where I lie down, My Lord!
                An` it`s dark where I lie down!

Old Mother Laidinwool, she give her bones a shake,
An` trotted down the churchyard-path as fast as she could make.
She met the Parson walking, but she says to him, says she: —
"Oh, don`t let no one trouble for a poor old ghost like me!"

`Twas all a warm September an` the hops had flourished grand.
She saw the folks get into `em with stockin`s on their hands—
An` none of `em was foreigners but all which she had known,
And old Mother Laidinwool she blessed `em every one.

She saw her daughters picking an` their children them-beside,
An` she mowed among the babies an` she stilled `em when they cried.
She saw their clothes was bought, not begged, an` they was clean an` fat,
An` old Mother Laidinwool she thanked the Lord for that.

Old Mother Laidinwool she waited on all day
Until it come too dark to see an` people went away—
Until it was too dark to see an` lights began to show,
An` old Mother Laidinwool she hadn`t where to go. 

Old Mother Laidinwool she give her bones a shake
An `trotted back to churchyard-mould as fast as she could make.
She  went  where  she  was  bidden  to  an`  there  laid  down  her ghost,  .  .  .
An` the Lord have mercy on you in the Day you need it most!

             Let me in again, 
             Out of the wet an` rain, Lord!
             Out of the wet an` rain, Lord! 
             For it`s best as You shall say, My Lord! 
             An` it`s best as You shall say!
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