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GAIL HAMILTON'S WEDDING
Amesbury, 12th mo. 29th, 1874.
“Come to my wedding,” the missive runs,
“Come hither and list to the holy vows;
If you miss this chance you will wait full long
To see another at Gail-a House!”
“Come hither and list to the holy vows;
If you miss this chance you will wait full long
To see another at Gail-a House!”
Her wedding! What can the woman expect?
Does she think her friends can be jolly and glad?
Is it only the child who sighs and grieves
For the loss of something he never had?
Does she think her friends can be jolly and glad?
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For the loss of something he never had?
Yet I say to myself, Is it strange that she
Should choose the way that we know is good
What right have we to grumble and whine
In a pitiful dog-in-the-manger mood?
Should choose the way that we know is good
What right have we to grumble and whine
In a pitiful dog-in-the-manger mood?
What boots it to maunder with “if” and “perhaps,”
And “it might have been” when we know it could n't,
If she had been willing (a vain surmise),
It 's ten to one that Barkis would n't.
And “it might have been” when we know it could n't,
If she had been willing (a vain surmise),
It 's ten to one that Barkis would n't.
'T was pleasant to think (if it was a dream)
That our loving homage her need supplied,
Humbler and sadder, if wiser, we walk
To feel her life from our own lives glide.
That our loving homage her need supplied,
Humbler and sadder, if wiser, we walk
To feel her life from our own lives glide.
Let her go, God bless her! I fling for luck
My old shoe after her. Stay, what 's this?
Is it all a mistake? The letter reads,
“My niece, you must know, is the happy miss.”
My old shoe after her. Stay, what 's this?
Is it all a mistake? The letter reads,
“My niece, you must know, is the happy miss.”
All 's right! To grind out a song of cheer
I set to the crank my ancient muse.
Will somebody kiss that bride for me?
I fling with my blessing, both boots and shoes!
I set to the crank my ancient muse.
Will somebody kiss that bride for me?
I fling with my blessing, both boots and shoes!
To the lucky bridegroom I cry all hail!
He is sure of having, let come what may,
The sage advice of the wisest aunt
That ever her fair charge gave away.
He is sure of having, let come what may,
The sage advice of the wisest aunt
That ever her fair charge gave away.
The Hamilton bell, if bell there be,
Methinks is ringing its merriest peal;
And, shades of John Calvin! I seem to see
The hostess treading the wedding reel!
Methinks is ringing its merriest peal;
And, shades of John Calvin! I seem to see
The hostess treading the wedding reel!
The years are many, the years are long,
My dreams are over, my songs are sung,
But, out of a heart that has not grown cold,
I bid God-speed to the fair and young.
My dreams are over, my songs are sung,
But, out of a heart that has not grown cold,
I bid God-speed to the fair and young.
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All joy go with them from year to year;
Never by me shall their pledge be blamed
Of the perfect love that has cast out fear,
And the beautiful hope that is not ashamed!
Never by me shall their pledge be blamed
Of the perfect love that has cast out fear,
And the beautiful hope that is not ashamed!
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