No matter how dark
And stormy the night,
My mind still wanders
By my strong lovelight
Holding a secret
That nobody knows,
And guided by the thought
Of my Ruby Montrose.
Now I’ve gained her love renown,
The world will smile and cease to frown.
The summer breeze that always blows
Will refreshen the love of my Ruby Montrose.
I ne’er grow tired of the words I write,
They are my soul and my heart’s delight.
They hold more sweetness than any flower that grows,
For in them’s the thought of my Ruby Montrose.
BEAUTY AND UGLY
When beauty fades away
Ugly approaches soon,
But when ugly fades away
Our place is lost beneath the moon.
THE BLESSING OF GOD
Close not thy door
To the blessing of God,
Just e’er be humble
And spare the rod.
And when you see a friend
Downhearted and cold
Longing for the warmth
Of a spirited soul,
Just open the heart.
Though it may seem odd,
But to you will come the blessings
Of our own God.
No link or links tighter ties
Than those that are blending to the human lives,
Quote this to memory to have and to hold,
And liven up the spirit when you’re grown old,
And when on earth you’re done
Then you can rest beneath the sod,
For your door was always open
To the blessings of God.
SIXTY-ONE
Down on the southern plantation,
From sixty-one on back
Our forefathers were shackled in slavery,
And lived in huts and shacks,
But this shows they’re loyal
Hum, a negro as you glance,
But their grandsons are answering the roll call
Somewhere in France.
A VISION FROM THE FIRESIDE
Before the fire at night
When all was quite still,
I had nature’s sweetest dream,
And its beautiful old green hills.