1 I should like to die, said Willie, if my papa could die too;
But he says he isn’t ready, ’cause he has so much to do;
And my little sister Nellie says that I must surely die,
And that she and mama--then she stopp'd, because it made me cry,
And that she and mama--then she stopp'd, because it made me cry
2 But she told me, I remember, once while sitting on her knee,
That the angels never weary, watching over her and me;
And that if we’re good--(and mama told me just the same before,)
They will let us into heaven when they see us at the door,
They will let us into heaven when they see us at the door.
3 There I know I shall be happy, and will always want to stay;
I shall love to hear the singing, I shall love the endless day;
I shall love to look at Jesus, I shall love Him more and more,
And I’ll gather water-lilies for the angel at the door;
And I’ll gather water-lilies for the angel at the door.
4 There will be none but the holy--I shall know no more of sin
Though I’ll see mama and Nellie, for I know he’ll let them in,
But I’ll have to tell the angel, when I meet him at the door,
That he must excuse my papa, 'cause he couldn’t leave the store.
That he must excuse my papa, ’cause he couldn’t leave the store.
5 Nellie says, that may be I shall very soon be called away;
If papa were only ready, I should like to go to-day;
But if I should go before him to that world of light and joy,
Then I guess he’d want to come to Heaven to see his little boy.
Then I guess he’d want to come to Heaven to see his little boy.
Source: Minnetonka Songs: for Sabbath Schools, compiled especially for the Minnetonka Sabbath-School Assembly #72
Philip P. Bliss (b. Clearfield County, PA, 1838; d. Ashtabula, OH, 1876) left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher, making house calls on horseback during the winter, and during the summer attending the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, New York. His first song was published in 1864, and in 1868 Dwight L. Moody advised him to become a singing evangelist. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hym… Go to person page >
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