The songs that mother used to sing! How tenderly those ditties roll, And to the dirges in my soul The happy notes of gladness bring! Where'er my vagrant feet may roam From pleasures of my childhood's home, This life of mine with rapture throngs, When thinking of my mother's songs. They were not made of magic lays; No perfect melodies were found, That with the strains of fairy sound Would charm the stranger's ear to praise; But I can never hope to meet Another music half so sweet, And all my longing love will cling To songs that mother used to sing. With gentleness of crooning cries, She freed the aching limbs from pain, And lulled the eyes to sleep again With sweetness of her lullabies. Love mingled with her tender voice In tones that made the heart rejoice, And Heaven's music seemed to ring In songs that mother used to sing. Though years have passed, they still impart Glad warbles to the hours of woe, And their mute carols fondly throw The sacred raptures o'er my heart; Until my locks are thin and gray Deep in my soul will sound alway, And full of joy will ever spring The songs that mother used to sing. "QUAFF THE GLASS, THE WINE IS RED." Quaff the glass, the wine is red, And the rose of youth is glowing, While the toils of life are fled And the snows of age are going; Quaff it with a hearty will, Quaff it deep and quaff forever; Wine will every sorrow kill, And destroy the pleasures never. When the heart beats sad and low, Drink its gladness like a river; When the soul is weak with woe, Quaff and be a cheerful liver; Never, never, life, despair, While a cup of hope is nigh thee; Bend not under loads of care While the fount of joy is by thee! If the fickle friendships end And thy fortune be a sad one, Claim, O, claim, as truest friend, Ruby wine, the sweet and glad one! If thy love hath proven cold, Leave her, leave her, for the new one; Wine is never false for gold; Friend to friend, a tried and true one! Let the cynics curse and rave; This must be a life of pleasure; Fill a bumper! He's the knave Who would scorn joy's fullest measure; Quaff the glass, the wine is red; Hour by hour the days are going; Wine is yet the fountain head From which pleasure's tide is flowing GOOD-NIGHT. Good night, my little love, good-night! May angels keep With fondest watch thy slumbers, till the light Shall break thy sleep, And morning with its wonders bright Shall banish all thy cares with might. Within this quickened life of mine, I bear away The loving looks and tender words of thine, Which from this day Within my soul shall ever shine And make me better, more divine.