The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
HAL AND HIS FRIENDS. |
 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
165
HAL AND HIS FRIENDS.
I
Hal had a plot of garden-ground;And when his work was done,
He loved to sit beneath the trees,
And watch the setting sun.
And thither came the friends he loved,—
'Twas Tom, and Dick, and Ben;
Quoth Hal, “We've oft been happy here,—
“And so we shall again!
II
“No store have we of worldly wealth,“But we are sages all;
“And if our fortunes are not great,
“Our wishes are but small.
“When we began to earn our bread,
“Our years were four and ten,
“And since that day we've paid our way,—
“And so we shall again!
III
“We never hide the truth we feel,“To flatter rich or poor;
“And stoutly bear, as men should do,
“The griefs we cannot cure.
“And if like others we have err'd,
“Or stumbled now and then,
“We've always held our heads erect,—
“And so we shall again!
166
IV
“With cheerful hearts we've plodded on,“Through many a stormy day;
“Enjoy'd the light, and loved the right,
“And pluck'd the flowers of May.
“We've done our best, and hoped the rest,
“Though poor yet honest men;
“And always found our pathway clear,—
“And so we shall again!”
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |