Broken!
It's only a promise—as light as air—
Though earnestly, solemnly given,
Made to be broken—yet who should care?—
Do you think it was heard in Heaven?—
Break it to day!
Yet stay!—that breath
Is a blast of death
To an innocent human heart!
Unsay the word,
For God has heard!
And He taketh the wronged one's part—-
Break it not to-day!
In vain!—in vain!—What matters it now?
It was only a breath—no more!
A faithless promise—a traitor's vow—
Such things have happened before—
It's broken to-day!
IV.
Broken!
It's only a heart—a human heart—
That has throbbed for years and years,
With the burning pain and the cruel smart
Whose agony knows no tears—
Cast it away'
Yet stay!—oh stay!
A father, grey
And sorrowful, prayed for her long
And a mother's love
Bore to God above
The tale of her poor childs wrong!—
Cast it not away!
In vain!—'Tis a story old and worn—
This story of falsehood's art—
Of the harsh world's withering blight and scorn,—
Who cares for the broken heart
That's been cast away?
"TO OUR PARENTS"
WRITTEN BY REQUEST, FOR A GOLDEN WEDDING
Full fifty years together—
Father and mother dear—
Through pleasant summer weather,
Or wintry tempests drear,—
Thro' sunshine and thro' shadow,
Oft travel sore and tried,
Yet strong to aid each other,
You've journeyed side by side
A few brief years of climbing,—
One glad, exultant glance
At the sun bright world around you,
At the smiling heaven's expanse,—
And then, the slow descending
Into the vale below,
Where the light with shade is blending,
And the deamy waters flow
Full fifty years of travel—
Then, on your worn staves rest,
And welcome home your children,
And many an honored guest,—
We come to give you greeting,—
We come to bring you cheer,—
To hail with glad rejoicing
This fiftieth wedded year!
We know your hearts are asking
For one who is not here—
Whose voice was sweetest music,
Whose smile was very dear,
But the blessed Heaven that holds him
Is very near to you,
And the warm love that enfolds him,
Enfolds his parents too.
Then let the tears we're shedding
Have naught of grief's alloy;—
And let this GOLDEN WEDDING
Be one of tranquil joy.
God bless our honored father
God bless our mother dear!
And a thousand, thousand welcomes
To this fiftieth wedded year.