[Waitin' to Be a Bride, in] Poets and Poetry of printerdom a collection of Original, Selected, and Fugitive Lyrics |
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 | [Waitin' to Be a Bride, in] Poets and Poetry of printerdom |  |
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Waitin' to Be a Bride.
And so you'll soon be goin' away,
My darling little Bess;
And you ha' been to the town, to-day,
To buy your weddin' dress;
My darling little Bess;
And you ha' been to the town, to-day,
To buy your weddin' dress;
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And so your dear old mother an' I,
Whose love you long have known,
Must lay the light o' your presence by,
And walk the road alone.
Whose love you long have known,
Must lay the light o' your presence by,
And walk the road alone.
So, come, to-night, with mother and me,
To the porch, for an hour or two,
And sit on your old father's knee,
The same as you used to do;
To the porch, for an hour or two,
And sit on your old father's knee,
The same as you used to do;
For we, who ha' loved you, many a year,
And clung to you, strong an' true,
Since we've had the young Professor here,
Have not had much of you.
And clung to you, strong an' true,
Since we've had the young Professor here,
Have not had much of you.
But lovers be lovers, while earth endures;
And once, on a time, be it known,
I helped a girl with eyes like yours,
Construct a world of our own;
And once, on a time, be it known,
I helped a girl with eyes like yours,
Construct a world of our own;
And we laid it out in a garden-spot,
And dwelt in the midst of flowers,
Till we found the world was a good-sized lot,
And most of it was n't ours.
And dwelt in the midst of flowers,
Till we found the world was a good-sized lot,
And most of it was n't ours.
You're heavier, girl, than when you come
To us, one winter's day,
And seemed to feel so little at home,
We feared you would n't stay;
To us, one winter's day,
And seemed to feel so little at home,
We feared you would n't stay;
Till I knew the danger was passed; because
You'd struck so mortal a track,
And got so independent and cross,
God never would let you back!
You'd struck so mortal a track,
And got so independent and cross,
God never would let you back!
But who would ever ha' had a whim,
When you lay in my arms an' cried,
You'd sometime sit here, pretty and prim,
A-waitin' to be a bride!
When you lay in my arms an' cried,
You'd sometime sit here, pretty and prim,
A-waitin' to be a bride!
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But lovers be lovers, while earth goes on,
And marry, as they ought;
And if you would keep the love you've won,
Remember what you've been taught!
And marry, as they ought;
And if you would keep the love you've won,
Remember what you've been taught!
Look, first, that your wedded lives be true,
With naught from each other apart;
For the flowers of true love never grow
In the soil of a faithless heart.
With naught from each other apart;
For the flowers of true love never grow
In the soil of a faithless heart.
Look, next, that the buds of health shall rest
Their blossoms upon your cheek;
For life and love are a burden, at best,
If the body be sick and weak.
Their blossoms upon your cheek;
For life and love are a burden, at best,
If the body be sick and weak.
Look, next, that your kitchen-fire be bright,
And your hands be neat and skilled;
For the love of man oft takes its flight,
If his stomach be not well filled.
And your hands be neat and skilled;
For the love of man oft takes its flight,
If his stomach be not well filled.
Look, next, your money be fairly earned,
Ere ever it be spent;
For comfort and love, however turned,
Will ne'er pay ten per cent.
Ere ever it be spent;
For comfort and love, however turned,
Will ne'er pay ten per cent.
And, next, due care an' diligence keep,
That the mind be trained an' fed,
For blessings e'er look shabby an' cheap,
That light on an empty head.
That the mind be trained an' fed,
For blessings e'er look shabby an' cheap,
That light on an empty head.
And if it shall please the gracious God
That children to you belong,
Remember, my child, an' spare the rod,
Till you've taught 'em right an' wrong;
That children to you belong,
Remember, my child, an' spare the rod,
Till you've taught 'em right an' wrong;
And show 'em that though this life's a start
For the better world, no doubt,
Yet heaven an' earth ain't so far apart
As some good folks make out.
For the better world, no doubt,
Yet heaven an' earth ain't so far apart
As some good folks make out.
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