He recked not of the sneerings Thrown at him by his mates,My noble boy, he standeth now By "Heaven's pearly gates!"Yes, two have gone to Heaven, My boys so tall and strong,My delicate girls are left here To battle with earth's wrong.Strange course of eventful nature, That takes the strong and leaves the weakTo close my slumbering eyelids And smooth my withered cheek.Night after night I listen For the step I know so well,Hoping as the moments go No harm has the one befellWho for so many long years Has jogged along with me.Over life's road so rugged, But by him made smooth to be.The twilight is swiftly fading And the stars begin to peep.But still I linger in the doorway And my lonely vigil keep.My child (the one that is left me Of all the others here at home),Now tells me the dew is falling And father home has come."So I leave my place in the doorway And quickly go withinTo receive the kiss that awaits me, What matter my cheek is thin?Although my sight is fainter And my hair is most all gray.That love is still as fresh to us As on my bridal day!
AFTER MANY YEARS.Song to J. M.
Since last we met Many years have passed away, And we meet now as lovers no more;But we never will forget Those bright days that have passed, Nor the many good old times we had of yore.
We have both met and loved Other dear ones since then, Thro' other paths do we rove,But we never will forget The bright times that have been Or the moonlight in the old pine grove.
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