May I come home once more

MAY I COME HOME AGAIN
[From song cards printed by] BAMFORTH & CO
Words permission of the Lawrence Wright Music Co, 29 Conduit St, Leicester.

In a grand house sat a man old and grey,
Reading a letter from one far away.
It came from his son, the once pride of his life, 
Whose behaviour had broken the heart of his wife. 
The stepmother watching, her mind fill'd with dread, 
Wish'd, in her heart, the poor lad was dead;
She thought of her own son, her mind fill'd with fears; 
But these are the words that he read through his tears

May I come home once more?
Can I return again?
Oh! how I long to see you dad;
Will you forgive your unfortunate lad?
For the sake of my mother, your wife, 
I'm sorry I've caused you pain,
Send a reply, Dad, please, to say yes, 
May I come home again?

"How dare he send here," the stepmother said 
"Just burn that letter and treat him as dead.
He forged your name, you told me yourself;
It's not your forgiveness he wants, but your wealth.
If he enters this house I will leave the same day, 
You know what I am, and mean what I say."
The old man, upset, thought her very unkind,
His unfortunate boy's words were still in his mind.

The old man looked up and sadly he said:
"I can't burn this letter, or treat him as dead; 
My boy shall come home, now don't be unkind, 
He has learned a lesson for life you will find.
If you were his mother, and he were your son, 
Would you forgive the harm that he's done?
I'll send a reply at once over the main,
And tell my poor boy he may come home again."