The Baptist Church was the center
of this small town
Well-known and loved by people
All around.
Two young ones grew close friends
at church and school
Everyone knew Mary
And Little Joe, too.
Mary grew up--a sweet quiet one.
Little Joe was the Baptist preacher's
Only son.
Joe gave Mary, one Valentine's Day
A friendship ring and then both
would say,
"We will be best friends--never bend
Friends forever til the end."
A teenage Mary suddenly moved far away
Joe never far from his hometown did stray.
Mary never did let Joe guess
The secret of her moving west.
Many years later, Mary comes home--
Her mother's sick and all alone.
Some folks gossiped a little bit.
Mary seemed to not notice any of it.
Some said Mary must have turned a little wild.
'Cause she came home with a young child.
If anyone asked, Mary said, "The father's dead
And the details are best left--unsaid.
One winter day, they buried Mary's mother
While the Baptist Church choir sang
Later Mary went through her mothers things
She found a velvet box with a small Garnet ring.
And inside, a note addressed to her little Suzy--
Some shock that note did bring.
Soon Mary went to visit
The town's new preacher Joe.
And she said to him while they sat alone
"I thought you ought to know--
She's your daughter Suzy, Preacher Joe."
More years pass and one fine Spring day
Suzy and her true love
to the old church, a wedding bring
The beautiful bride 'round her neck
on a golden chain Wears a tiny Garnet ring.
If anyone about her necklace asks,
She smiles and says it's a treasure
from my mother's past
One day a baby girl, fresh and new
is brought to church for all to view
Round her neck on a little chain
Her Mom, Suzy, has placed a Garnet ring.
If anyone about her necklace asks,
She smiles and says it's a treasure
from my mother's past
One day a baby girl, fresh and new
is brought to church for all to view
Round her neck on a little chain
Her Mom, Suzy, has placed a Garnet ring.
Preacher Joe has grown old.
Never married and when some wanted
the reason to know
He said "I dedicated my life only to God
Long long ago."
Suzy came by like all the rest
To pay her respects, when Joe
went to his rest.
Before the casket was closed that day
Suzy leaned over close and then in tears
Walked away.
Some say they saw her into the casket
Drop something--
I say it was a small Garnet ring.
"We will be friends until the end"
So now ends the secred
only three did know.
Suzy, God and the Preacher Joe.
© October 2015 Shirley Keeling Spradling
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