Jean Ritchie
Two Little Children (The Orphans’ Last Plea)
[Verse 1]
Two little children, a boy and a girl
Sat down by the old church door
The little girl's cheek was as brown as the curl
That fell on the dress that she wore

[Verse 2]
The little boy's coat was all ragged and torn
A tear shone in each little eye
"Why don't you go home to your mama?" they said
And this was the maiden's reply

[Verse 3]
"We can't earn our bread, we're too little," she said
"Jim's five and I'm only seven
We've no one to love us since Papa's away
And darling Mama's in heaven

[Verse 4]
"Mama's in hеaven, angels took her away
Lеft Jim and I all alone
And Papa got lost on the sea long ago—
We have no mama nor home"

[Verse 5]
The sexton came early to ring the church bell
And found them beneath the snow white
The angels made room for two orphans to dwell
In heaven with Mama that night