WHEN LIFE WAS WORTH WHILE

Oh, they were pleasant, the ways that you walked with

me!

Roses ne’er bloomed as they bloomed in those days!

Oh, they were pleasant, the days that you talked with

me!

Birds never caroled so sweetly their lays!

Oh, they were pleasant by day and by night!

The world—never world was so full of delight!

Glad were the evenings your sweet voice rang out to me!

Heaven was open and angels peeped through!

A thrush in the thicket off yonder sang out to me!

The breeze bought sweet perfumes to me and to you!

And, oh, life was glad! no heart throbbed high

As my own heart then throbbed at the look from

your eye!

And, oh, I was glad! and the whole world seemed glad

to me!

“Glad?” Why not glad, since I lived and loved you?

And never a rift in the lute made life sad to me,

And never a doubt flecked your eyes bonny blue!

Life was enchantment! a dream! and worth while!

When my soul spread its pinions and basked in

your smile!