Lyrics

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I came to live among these hills as Francis Whitmore's wife

Out in these woods, I do declare, it is a lonesome life

My husband's gone to distant lands to pursue his tinker's trade

Left me alone to guard the cattle and the home we made

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Each day I go with my small axe into the drifting snow

Branches I gather, feed the cows and make the fire to go

To furnish water for the cows I boil both ice and snow

Till spring awakes the frozen streams and lets the waters flow

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Throughout this long & dreary winter I have been alone 

Without a horse or neighbor woman who could share my moan

With only my young daughter dear to keep me company

I put my faith in gods above, they will watch over me

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One day, by Providence, two hunters sought for shelter at my door

I bade them welcome, warm themselves and share among our store

Their company was dear to me, it filled my heart with song

I could not guess the emptiness I'd feel when they were gone

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My mind & hands with daily toil are constantly employed

But in the hours of darkness there are fears I can't avoid

The days are hard, the nights are long, but spring will surely come

And when the trails are free of snow my Francis will come home.

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If I survive through bitter winds of winter then I know

I will have nothing left to fear from winter or the snow

When others come to settle here, their courage it might fail

God gives me strength and with it I will help them to prevail

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I came to live among these hills as Francis Whitmore's wife

Out in these woods I do declare it is a lonesome life.