HAVE you balked at the test you’ve been put to,Are you weary of straining a point?Is the fight too hard, the way too long?Is there too much of sighing, too little of song?Does ev’ry thing seem to be going wrong?The scheme entire, as it were, out of joint?Then lend me an ear whilst I counsel awhile,You must take afreshgrip, my friend,The game is yours if you’ll make it your own,Defeat is a word that need never be known.He whosticksin his mount,cannotbe thrown,Let his steed strive its best to that end.The sun goes down with the gloom of each night,But it rises again with each morn,And there’s so much of brightness to be gathered in,Such wonderful happiness ours to win,Throw despair to the winds, and anew begin,Standing forth—the Mortal re-born!
HAVE you balked at the test you’ve been put to,Are you weary of straining a point?Is the fight too hard, the way too long?Is there too much of sighing, too little of song?Does ev’ry thing seem to be going wrong?The scheme entire, as it were, out of joint?Then lend me an ear whilst I counsel awhile,You must take afreshgrip, my friend,The game is yours if you’ll make it your own,Defeat is a word that need never be known.He whosticksin his mount,cannotbe thrown,Let his steed strive its best to that end.The sun goes down with the gloom of each night,But it rises again with each morn,And there’s so much of brightness to be gathered in,Such wonderful happiness ours to win,Throw despair to the winds, and anew begin,Standing forth—the Mortal re-born!
HAVE you balked at the test you’ve been put to,Are you weary of straining a point?Is the fight too hard, the way too long?Is there too much of sighing, too little of song?Does ev’ry thing seem to be going wrong?The scheme entire, as it were, out of joint?
Then lend me an ear whilst I counsel awhile,You must take afreshgrip, my friend,The game is yours if you’ll make it your own,Defeat is a word that need never be known.He whosticksin his mount,cannotbe thrown,Let his steed strive its best to that end.
The sun goes down with the gloom of each night,But it rises again with each morn,And there’s so much of brightness to be gathered in,Such wonderful happiness ours to win,Throw despair to the winds, and anew begin,Standing forth—the Mortal re-born!
AT times, I think, were we to talk it overThe something wanting in your life and mine,We might arrive at clearer understandingThe cause of our unhappiness define.Yet, ever with the impulse strong upon meSuch course to follow out as for the best,Comes swift the contradictory impression,—’Twould useless be to put it to the test.That sympathy which pleads when souls are matedIs the so woefully lacking,—’tis clear,It could not prove aught else than effort wasted,—You are so far,—to try and draw you near.
AT times, I think, were we to talk it overThe something wanting in your life and mine,We might arrive at clearer understandingThe cause of our unhappiness define.Yet, ever with the impulse strong upon meSuch course to follow out as for the best,Comes swift the contradictory impression,—’Twould useless be to put it to the test.That sympathy which pleads when souls are matedIs the so woefully lacking,—’tis clear,It could not prove aught else than effort wasted,—You are so far,—to try and draw you near.
AT times, I think, were we to talk it overThe something wanting in your life and mine,We might arrive at clearer understandingThe cause of our unhappiness define.
Yet, ever with the impulse strong upon meSuch course to follow out as for the best,Comes swift the contradictory impression,—’Twould useless be to put it to the test.
That sympathy which pleads when souls are matedIs the so woefully lacking,—’tis clear,It could not prove aught else than effort wasted,—You are so far,—to try and draw you near.
YOU never guessed the secret,Nor have unto to-day.The truth of it never reached you,I hid it so well away.The truth of how I loved you,Yet spake not, for your sake;Nor is it easy to put asideWhat One so longs to take.The voice of you, in my musings,The glance of you, in my dreams;The feeling, you ever were near me,Even now, how compelling it seems!As if but to turn—were to see you;To know the clasp of your hand;Yet, I guarded the knowledge carefully,And you did not understand.Still the thought of you hurt, and I hungered—Hungered, day and night,It will count when the story is ended,I was able to see aright.You never guessed the secret,Nor have unto to-day.The truth of it never reached you,I hid it so well away.
YOU never guessed the secret,Nor have unto to-day.The truth of it never reached you,I hid it so well away.The truth of how I loved you,Yet spake not, for your sake;Nor is it easy to put asideWhat One so longs to take.The voice of you, in my musings,The glance of you, in my dreams;The feeling, you ever were near me,Even now, how compelling it seems!As if but to turn—were to see you;To know the clasp of your hand;Yet, I guarded the knowledge carefully,And you did not understand.Still the thought of you hurt, and I hungered—Hungered, day and night,It will count when the story is ended,I was able to see aright.You never guessed the secret,Nor have unto to-day.The truth of it never reached you,I hid it so well away.
YOU never guessed the secret,Nor have unto to-day.The truth of it never reached you,I hid it so well away.The truth of how I loved you,Yet spake not, for your sake;Nor is it easy to put asideWhat One so longs to take.
The voice of you, in my musings,The glance of you, in my dreams;The feeling, you ever were near me,Even now, how compelling it seems!As if but to turn—were to see you;To know the clasp of your hand;Yet, I guarded the knowledge carefully,And you did not understand.
Still the thought of you hurt, and I hungered—Hungered, day and night,It will count when the story is ended,I was able to see aright.You never guessed the secret,Nor have unto to-day.The truth of it never reached you,I hid it so well away.
THE light! the light!For all is dark,The light I pray,My feet stumble,I cannot find the way.The light! the light!For all is dark,Soon the nightComplete, will overtakeThe light! the light! Oh! God—the light!
THE light! the light!For all is dark,The light I pray,My feet stumble,I cannot find the way.The light! the light!For all is dark,Soon the nightComplete, will overtakeThe light! the light! Oh! God—the light!
THE light! the light!For all is dark,The light I pray,My feet stumble,I cannot find the way.
The light! the light!For all is dark,Soon the nightComplete, will overtakeThe light! the light! Oh! God—the light!
YOU say you are shocked, my lady,—and so you ought to be.A comedy, quite upon my soul,To make me love you,—then fence aboutWhen I demand only righteous toll.An innocent flirtation, you intended no harm,—Well, a lesson the trifler learns,To keep a safe distance away from fire,—For the truth, not the lie, it burns.
YOU say you are shocked, my lady,—and so you ought to be.A comedy, quite upon my soul,To make me love you,—then fence aboutWhen I demand only righteous toll.An innocent flirtation, you intended no harm,—Well, a lesson the trifler learns,To keep a safe distance away from fire,—For the truth, not the lie, it burns.
YOU say you are shocked, my lady,—and so you ought to be.A comedy, quite upon my soul,To make me love you,—then fence aboutWhen I demand only righteous toll.
An innocent flirtation, you intended no harm,—Well, a lesson the trifler learns,To keep a safe distance away from fire,—For the truth, not the lie, it burns.
YOU beg of me to forgive youThe Other in your life.She, who has for some time, I’ve discovered,Been defrauding the wife.You avow you never loved herThat ’twas she led you along—And why hold one responsibleWho’s not guilty of a wrong?Won’t I forgive, as you urge me,Forgive and try to forget?Let the rest of your life be a token,Of how sincere your regret.I must have time for my answer,Some things take the breath—It seems to die, we need notAlways wait for death.I loved you so absolutely,Thought you so completely my own;I never questioned but that we meantAll in all to each other—alone.And you the while were betrayingThe faith I held so dear,Selling the same to another—No, do not come near.When its foundation becomes weakened,A structure is undermined,Nor can it at all times, be strengthened anew,They who venture the effort, find.I will do my best to replace it—The foundation my trust hath known;Should I fail—tho’ sincere my intention—tion—You must go on your way—alone.
YOU beg of me to forgive youThe Other in your life.She, who has for some time, I’ve discovered,Been defrauding the wife.You avow you never loved herThat ’twas she led you along—And why hold one responsibleWho’s not guilty of a wrong?Won’t I forgive, as you urge me,Forgive and try to forget?Let the rest of your life be a token,Of how sincere your regret.I must have time for my answer,Some things take the breath—It seems to die, we need notAlways wait for death.I loved you so absolutely,Thought you so completely my own;I never questioned but that we meantAll in all to each other—alone.And you the while were betrayingThe faith I held so dear,Selling the same to another—No, do not come near.When its foundation becomes weakened,A structure is undermined,Nor can it at all times, be strengthened anew,They who venture the effort, find.I will do my best to replace it—The foundation my trust hath known;Should I fail—tho’ sincere my intention—tion—You must go on your way—alone.
YOU beg of me to forgive youThe Other in your life.She, who has for some time, I’ve discovered,Been defrauding the wife.
You avow you never loved herThat ’twas she led you along—And why hold one responsibleWho’s not guilty of a wrong?
Won’t I forgive, as you urge me,Forgive and try to forget?Let the rest of your life be a token,Of how sincere your regret.
I must have time for my answer,Some things take the breath—It seems to die, we need notAlways wait for death.
I loved you so absolutely,Thought you so completely my own;I never questioned but that we meantAll in all to each other—alone.
And you the while were betrayingThe faith I held so dear,Selling the same to another—No, do not come near.
When its foundation becomes weakened,A structure is undermined,Nor can it at all times, be strengthened anew,They who venture the effort, find.
I will do my best to replace it—The foundation my trust hath known;Should I fail—tho’ sincere my intention—tion—You must go on your way—alone.
Acknowledgment is made to Messrs. George W. Jacobs & Company for their courtesy in granting permission to reprint in this volume verses from “Rhymes for Wee Sweethearts.”
WHEN grandmama was little—It was years and years ago,In what folks call, at this time,The old-fashioned days, you know—Why, she had such a perfect time,The best you ever saw:We wish that we’d been littleSame time as grandmama.She tells us all about it,And then, if we are good,And just sit still and listen,The way all children should,And never interrupt a bit,Or question ’bout the restTill she’s all through, she shows usThe things up in her chest.I can’t begin to tell youThe half of what is there:The rag-dolls soiled and fadedThat haven’t any hair,And toys, and—oh, yes!—lady-dolls,And, folded with the rest,A little rose-bud muslin frock,Her one-time very best.And there’s her picture takenIn this self-same gown,With ruffles reaching to the waistAnd panties showing down;Hair parted in the middle;Over each ear a curl:Oh! but our grandmama was pretty!When a little girl!
WHEN grandmama was little—It was years and years ago,In what folks call, at this time,The old-fashioned days, you know—Why, she had such a perfect time,The best you ever saw:We wish that we’d been littleSame time as grandmama.She tells us all about it,And then, if we are good,And just sit still and listen,The way all children should,And never interrupt a bit,Or question ’bout the restTill she’s all through, she shows usThe things up in her chest.I can’t begin to tell youThe half of what is there:The rag-dolls soiled and fadedThat haven’t any hair,And toys, and—oh, yes!—lady-dolls,And, folded with the rest,A little rose-bud muslin frock,Her one-time very best.And there’s her picture takenIn this self-same gown,With ruffles reaching to the waistAnd panties showing down;Hair parted in the middle;Over each ear a curl:Oh! but our grandmama was pretty!When a little girl!
WHEN grandmama was little—It was years and years ago,In what folks call, at this time,The old-fashioned days, you know—Why, she had such a perfect time,The best you ever saw:We wish that we’d been littleSame time as grandmama.
She tells us all about it,And then, if we are good,And just sit still and listen,The way all children should,And never interrupt a bit,Or question ’bout the restTill she’s all through, she shows usThe things up in her chest.
I can’t begin to tell youThe half of what is there:The rag-dolls soiled and fadedThat haven’t any hair,And toys, and—oh, yes!—lady-dolls,And, folded with the rest,A little rose-bud muslin frock,Her one-time very best.
And there’s her picture takenIn this self-same gown,With ruffles reaching to the waistAnd panties showing down;Hair parted in the middle;Over each ear a curl:Oh! but our grandmama was pretty!When a little girl!
BLAMED if I see any funIn being a boy,With ev’rybody tryingTheir hardest to annoy!It’s “Harold” here, and “Harold” thereUntil they have me sickOf “Run along!”—“Don’t be slow!”—Or “Hurry up; be quick!”First some one sends me down-stairs,I run with might and main;Before I’m half-way there it’s turnAnd run right up again!And sure as I go out to play,Or have a little fun,I’m called straight in: there’s something elseA-waiting to be done!I just believe I’ll run away;Pack all my things and go!Can’t see the use of staying ’roundAnd being treated so!For I just bet when they were small,Notoneof them would doHalf of the errands and the thingsThat I’m expected to!
BLAMED if I see any funIn being a boy,With ev’rybody tryingTheir hardest to annoy!It’s “Harold” here, and “Harold” thereUntil they have me sickOf “Run along!”—“Don’t be slow!”—Or “Hurry up; be quick!”First some one sends me down-stairs,I run with might and main;Before I’m half-way there it’s turnAnd run right up again!And sure as I go out to play,Or have a little fun,I’m called straight in: there’s something elseA-waiting to be done!I just believe I’ll run away;Pack all my things and go!Can’t see the use of staying ’roundAnd being treated so!For I just bet when they were small,Notoneof them would doHalf of the errands and the thingsThat I’m expected to!
BLAMED if I see any funIn being a boy,With ev’rybody tryingTheir hardest to annoy!It’s “Harold” here, and “Harold” thereUntil they have me sickOf “Run along!”—“Don’t be slow!”—Or “Hurry up; be quick!”
First some one sends me down-stairs,I run with might and main;Before I’m half-way there it’s turnAnd run right up again!And sure as I go out to play,Or have a little fun,I’m called straight in: there’s something elseA-waiting to be done!
I just believe I’ll run away;Pack all my things and go!Can’t see the use of staying ’roundAnd being treated so!For I just bet when they were small,Notoneof them would doHalf of the errands and the thingsThat I’m expected to!
BROTHER Dick and I one dayWatched Mrs. Spider spin away:My, how she spun, and spun, and spun,Until she had her web all done!Then, brother Dick, he said to me:“Now, where can Mr. Spider be?”We watched, but didn’t see him come,So I guess he couldn’t have lived at home.
BROTHER Dick and I one dayWatched Mrs. Spider spin away:My, how she spun, and spun, and spun,Until she had her web all done!Then, brother Dick, he said to me:“Now, where can Mr. Spider be?”We watched, but didn’t see him come,So I guess he couldn’t have lived at home.
BROTHER Dick and I one dayWatched Mrs. Spider spin away:My, how she spun, and spun, and spun,Until she had her web all done!Then, brother Dick, he said to me:“Now, where can Mr. Spider be?”We watched, but didn’t see him come,So I guess he couldn’t have lived at home.
WHEN I’m so awf’ly naughty,Andjustwon’tdoThe very littlest tiny thingThatI’mtoldto,But kick and scream when any oneAttempts to come my way,And press my fingers to my earsTo miss what they may say,Why, then my mother says that I’mAs bad as bad can be;She says she thinks it’s some one elseInsteadofme.She says she’s sure the little girlSheusedtoknowWould never do the horrid thingsThathurtherso;And though she doesn’t try to whip,She looks so very sadThat somehow I just get ashamedAnd can’t keep being bad:I chase the naughty girl awayAs far as far can be;Then I run and kiss my mother, soShe’llknowI’mme!
WHEN I’m so awf’ly naughty,Andjustwon’tdoThe very littlest tiny thingThatI’mtoldto,But kick and scream when any oneAttempts to come my way,And press my fingers to my earsTo miss what they may say,Why, then my mother says that I’mAs bad as bad can be;She says she thinks it’s some one elseInsteadofme.She says she’s sure the little girlSheusedtoknowWould never do the horrid thingsThathurtherso;And though she doesn’t try to whip,She looks so very sadThat somehow I just get ashamedAnd can’t keep being bad:I chase the naughty girl awayAs far as far can be;Then I run and kiss my mother, soShe’llknowI’mme!
WHEN I’m so awf’ly naughty,Andjustwon’tdoThe very littlest tiny thingThatI’mtoldto,But kick and scream when any oneAttempts to come my way,And press my fingers to my earsTo miss what they may say,Why, then my mother says that I’mAs bad as bad can be;She says she thinks it’s some one elseInsteadofme.She says she’s sure the little girlSheusedtoknowWould never do the horrid thingsThathurtherso;And though she doesn’t try to whip,She looks so very sadThat somehow I just get ashamedAnd can’t keep being bad:I chase the naughty girl awayAs far as far can be;Then I run and kiss my mother, soShe’llknowI’mme!
AWEE form nestles on the stair,Two eyes betrayingThe Sand-man has o’ertaken thereWee steps delaying.Too tired to mount the flight to bed,Dear little tumbled golden head,Just resting there a while instead,Through dreamland straying.
AWEE form nestles on the stair,Two eyes betrayingThe Sand-man has o’ertaken thereWee steps delaying.Too tired to mount the flight to bed,Dear little tumbled golden head,Just resting there a while instead,Through dreamland straying.
AWEE form nestles on the stair,Two eyes betrayingThe Sand-man has o’ertaken thereWee steps delaying.Too tired to mount the flight to bed,Dear little tumbled golden head,Just resting there a while instead,Through dreamland straying.
ALL aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(One for the money and two for the show!)All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(Three to make ready and four to go!)The passenger’s late,But the cars all wait—Just hark to the brakeman’s cries:“All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!”—And the tickets are drowsy eyes.
ALL aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(One for the money and two for the show!)All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(Three to make ready and four to go!)The passenger’s late,But the cars all wait—Just hark to the brakeman’s cries:“All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!”—And the tickets are drowsy eyes.
ALL aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(One for the money and two for the show!)All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(Three to make ready and four to go!)The passenger’s late,But the cars all wait—Just hark to the brakeman’s cries:“All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!”—And the tickets are drowsy eyes.
All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(One for the money and two for the show!)All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(Three to make ready and four to go!)The whistles sound,And the wheels go ’round,And the bright green fields slip past;The passenger’s here and the track is clearTo the Land o’ Dreams at last!
All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(One for the money and two for the show!)All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(Three to make ready and four to go!)The whistles sound,And the wheels go ’round,And the bright green fields slip past;The passenger’s here and the track is clearTo the Land o’ Dreams at last!
All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(One for the money and two for the show!)All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!(Three to make ready and four to go!)The whistles sound,And the wheels go ’round,And the bright green fields slip past;The passenger’s here and the track is clearTo the Land o’ Dreams at last!
SOMETIMES at night I get awakeAnd all’s so dark and still—Why I’m ’bout scared even to takeA deep-down breath, untilI peer ’round first and try to seeIf ev’rything’s all right!For the terriblest things can be,—The Middle of the Night.I want so much to cry right out—But I am awful ’fraid!’Cause, if those black thingswereabout,They’d hear the noise I made.And mother sleeps so very sound,She mightn’t hear, you see,And then they’d make a great big boundAnd run away with me.So I lie just still as I can—My heart a-thumping so!Wishing I were a great big man,So I’d not scare, you know.When oh!—the covers pull awayAnd just as I beginTo scream—why, I hear mother sayIt’s her tucking them in!
SOMETIMES at night I get awakeAnd all’s so dark and still—Why I’m ’bout scared even to takeA deep-down breath, untilI peer ’round first and try to seeIf ev’rything’s all right!For the terriblest things can be,—The Middle of the Night.I want so much to cry right out—But I am awful ’fraid!’Cause, if those black thingswereabout,They’d hear the noise I made.And mother sleeps so very sound,She mightn’t hear, you see,And then they’d make a great big boundAnd run away with me.So I lie just still as I can—My heart a-thumping so!Wishing I were a great big man,So I’d not scare, you know.When oh!—the covers pull awayAnd just as I beginTo scream—why, I hear mother sayIt’s her tucking them in!
SOMETIMES at night I get awakeAnd all’s so dark and still—Why I’m ’bout scared even to takeA deep-down breath, untilI peer ’round first and try to seeIf ev’rything’s all right!For the terriblest things can be,—The Middle of the Night.
I want so much to cry right out—But I am awful ’fraid!’Cause, if those black thingswereabout,They’d hear the noise I made.And mother sleeps so very sound,She mightn’t hear, you see,And then they’d make a great big boundAnd run away with me.
So I lie just still as I can—My heart a-thumping so!Wishing I were a great big man,So I’d not scare, you know.When oh!—the covers pull awayAnd just as I beginTo scream—why, I hear mother sayIt’s her tucking them in!
WHEN our fathers were little boys,Before they grew to men,I wonder did they make a noiseOr have a good time then?I wonder did they ever fightAnd punch each other’s nose?Or if they always did just rightAnd never spoiled their clothes.I wonder did their mothers scoldSometimes and make them cry?I wonder if they ever toldA teeny-weeny lie?I wonder if they ever hadSuch dirty hands and face?I wonder were they ever madAnd banged things ’round the place?I wonder did they ever runTo fires hard as they could?Or if they called it better funTo sit still and be good?I wonderwerethey ever smallAnd kept back in the shade?Or didn’t they have to grow at all,But just come ready made?
WHEN our fathers were little boys,Before they grew to men,I wonder did they make a noiseOr have a good time then?I wonder did they ever fightAnd punch each other’s nose?Or if they always did just rightAnd never spoiled their clothes.I wonder did their mothers scoldSometimes and make them cry?I wonder if they ever toldA teeny-weeny lie?I wonder if they ever hadSuch dirty hands and face?I wonder were they ever madAnd banged things ’round the place?I wonder did they ever runTo fires hard as they could?Or if they called it better funTo sit still and be good?I wonderwerethey ever smallAnd kept back in the shade?Or didn’t they have to grow at all,But just come ready made?
WHEN our fathers were little boys,Before they grew to men,I wonder did they make a noiseOr have a good time then?I wonder did they ever fightAnd punch each other’s nose?Or if they always did just rightAnd never spoiled their clothes.
I wonder did their mothers scoldSometimes and make them cry?I wonder if they ever toldA teeny-weeny lie?I wonder if they ever hadSuch dirty hands and face?I wonder were they ever madAnd banged things ’round the place?
I wonder did they ever runTo fires hard as they could?Or if they called it better funTo sit still and be good?I wonderwerethey ever smallAnd kept back in the shade?Or didn’t they have to grow at all,But just come ready made?
TO all: “Good-night!”Two eyes shut tightAnd baby’s bound for Slumber,The land where all tired children go,The land where white dream-flowers growBeyond my art to number:WinksAnd blinksAnd nods all past—Mother’s arms are sure and fast,Off to Slumber Land at last,The moonlit Land of Slumber!
TO all: “Good-night!”Two eyes shut tightAnd baby’s bound for Slumber,The land where all tired children go,The land where white dream-flowers growBeyond my art to number:WinksAnd blinksAnd nods all past—Mother’s arms are sure and fast,Off to Slumber Land at last,The moonlit Land of Slumber!
TO all: “Good-night!”Two eyes shut tightAnd baby’s bound for Slumber,The land where all tired children go,The land where white dream-flowers growBeyond my art to number:WinksAnd blinksAnd nods all past—Mother’s arms are sure and fast,Off to Slumber Land at last,The moonlit Land of Slumber!
WE’ve got a new kid in our house;And it ’bout gives me a fit,The fuss that ev’rybody isA-making over it.All ’long I’ve been the pet, you see,’Twasmethey tried to pleaseBut now, this other fellow hasThem all upon their knees!He’s just about the ugliest!And really doesn’t seemAble to do another thingBut double up and scream.He’s got no teeth, he’s got no hair,—Worst curiosity!I’d like some one to tell mewhyHe counts for more than me!
WE’ve got a new kid in our house;And it ’bout gives me a fit,The fuss that ev’rybody isA-making over it.All ’long I’ve been the pet, you see,’Twasmethey tried to pleaseBut now, this other fellow hasThem all upon their knees!He’s just about the ugliest!And really doesn’t seemAble to do another thingBut double up and scream.He’s got no teeth, he’s got no hair,—Worst curiosity!I’d like some one to tell mewhyHe counts for more than me!
WE’ve got a new kid in our house;And it ’bout gives me a fit,The fuss that ev’rybody isA-making over it.All ’long I’ve been the pet, you see,’Twasmethey tried to pleaseBut now, this other fellow hasThem all upon their knees!
He’s just about the ugliest!And really doesn’t seemAble to do another thingBut double up and scream.He’s got no teeth, he’s got no hair,—Worst curiosity!I’d like some one to tell mewhyHe counts for more than me!