Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads

<p class="tit-song">THE CONVICT <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page290" name="page290"></SPAN>(p. 290)</span></p> <p>When slumbering In my convict cell my childhood days I see,<br/> When I was mother's little child and knelt at mother's knee.<br/> There my life was peace, I know, I knew no sorrow or pain.<br/> Mother dear never did think, I know, I would wear a felon's chain.</p> <p class="add1em">Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,<br/> Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?<br/> Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,<br/> Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?</p> <p>When I had grown to manhood and evil paths I trod,<br/> I learned to scorn my fellow-man and even curse my God;<br/> And in the evil course I ran for a great length of time<br/> Till at last I ran too long and was condemned for a felon's crime.</p> <p>My prison life will soon be o'er, my life will soon be gone,&mdash;<br/> May <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page291" name="page291"></SPAN>(p. 291)</span> the angels waft it heavenward to a bright and happy home.<br/> I'll be at rest, sweet, sweet rest, there is rest in the heavenly home;<br/> I'll be at rest, sweet, sweet rest, there is rest in the heavenly home.</p> <p class="add1em">Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,<br/> Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?<br/> Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,<br/> Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />