Little Joe

<br>Written by - A.P. Carter - Maybelle Carter - Sara Carter<br>Recorded by - Hank Snow<br><br>What will the birds do, mother, in the spring<br>When they stop to gather crumbs around the door<br>Will they fly from the trees half as nice with glee<br>Askin` why Joe wanders out no more<br><br>What will the kitten do, mother, all alone<br>Will he stop from his frolick for the day<br>Will he lie on his rug by the side of my bed<br>As he did before I went away<br><br>What will Thomas, that old gardener, say<br>When you ask him for flowers for me<br>Will he give you a rose he has tended with care<br>The first, fairest bloom of the tree<br><br>I have seen the tears in his honest, old eyes<br>But he said it was the wind that brought them there<br>As he gazed on my cheeks growing paler each day<br>And his hand went trembling through my hair<br><br>Keep tied, mother, my poor little dog<br>For I know he will mourn for me too<br>Just keep him when old and useless he grows<br>Sleepin` the whole summer through<br><br>Show him my coat, mother, so he`ll not forget<br>His master who then will be dead<br>Just speak to him kindly and often of Joe<br>And pat him on his brown, shaggy head<br><br>And you, dearest mother, may miss me for a while<br>But in Heaven I`ll no larger grow<br>And any kind angel will know at the gate<br>When you ask for your darlin` little Joe