If I Should Die To Night

By Eulalia (Shuart) Johnson

If I should die to night;

My friends would look upon my quiet face;

Before they aid it in it’s final resting place;

And dream that death had left it almost fair;

And laying snow white flowers against my hair;

Would smooth it down with tearful tenderness;

And fold my hands with lingering caress;

Poor hand so empty and so cold to night.

If I should die to night;

My friends would call to mind;

With loving thought

Some kindly deed the icy hands had wrought

Some gentle word the frozen lips had said

Errands on which the willing feet had sped

The memory of my selfishness and pride

My hasty words; would be all put aside

And so I should e mourned tonight

If I should die to night

Even hearts estranged would turn once more to me

Recalling other days remorsefully

The eyes that chill me now with averted glance,

Would look upon me as of yore

Perchance and soften in the old familiar way;

For who would was with______ unconscious clay?

So I might rest forgiven of all to night

H friends I pray to night

Keep not your kisses for my dead cold brow

The way is lonely; let me feel them now

Think gently of me; I am travel worn

My faltering feet are pierced by many a thorn

Forgive oh, hearts estranged, forgive; I pleade;

When dreamless rest is mine, I shall not

Need the tenderness for which I long tonight

“This was composed by Mrs. Wm. S. Johnson just before she died;

No date to it; I found it in one of her books; She died Dec 10^th 1932.

I copied this off the original sheet”.   Signed: Wm. S. Johnson, Jan.  29, 1935

I received this in 1993 from Arzell (Shuart) Mills, who received it from her Mother Anna (McGillivray) Shuart. Eulalia was the sister of James Edward Shuart, Anna’s husband, and the daughter of Joseph Shuart and Aveline Robbins.