March 17, 2004
Charlotte White "The Pilgrim's Song"
This poem was written by Charlotte White, half black, half Native American, and was born in 1775. Charlotte White Rd. is named after her. You can see a picture of her in our "Westport Enters its Fifth Century" p. 57.
THE PILGRIM’S SONG
Come all ye weary travelers, now let us join and sing.
The everlasting praises of Jesus Christ our King.
We have a tedious journey and tiresome it is true
But see how many dangers the Lord hath brought us through
At first when Jesus found us, He called us unto Him
And pointed out the danger of falling into sin.
The world, the flesh and Satan would prove a fatal snare
Unless we did reject them by faith and humble prayer
By our disobedience with sorrow we confess,
We have had long to wander in a dark wilderness.
Where we might oft had fainted in that inchanted ground
But now and then a cluster of pleasant grapes we found
The pleasant fruits of Canaan give life and love and peace.
Revives our drooping spirits and makes our joy complete.
To confess our Lord and Master, and run at His command,
And hasten on our journey into the Promised Land
In faith and hope and patience, were made for to rejoice
And Jesus and his people forever are our choice;
In peace and consolation we now are going on
The pleasant road to Canaan where Jesus Christ is gone
Sinners why stand ye idle, while we do march along
Has conscious never told you that you are going wrong.
Down the broad road to darkness beneath and endless curse
For sake your ways of sinning and come and go with us
But if you will refuse us we bid you all farewell
We are on the road to Canaan, and you the road to Hell
We are sorry for to leave you, we rather you would go
Come try a bleeding Saviour and feel salvation flow.
O sinners be awakened to see your lost estate,
Repent and be converted before it is too late.
Turn to the Lord by prayer and, daily search His Word
And never rest contented until you find the Lord
Now to the King Immortal be everlasting praise
For in His holy service we long to spend our days
Till we at Canaan, the celestial world above
To everlasting wonder to praise Redeeming Love.
Finis
Charlotte White Her Song
I write these lines for to betray
The thief that steals this song away
Still not this song for fear of shame
For above these lines is the owner’s name
Charlotte White is my name and Newengland is my nation.
Westport is my dwelling place and Heaven is my salvation
When this you see
Remember me
Though far from me
Your distance be
Miss Charlotte White
Is my chief delight
Day or night
As I do think ??
Westport, October 14th Day, 1798.