The Yesterdays we might have called our own But which, in our blindness, we let slip by, Alas! they know not to return again, Deep-buried doth each, within its grave, lie. But O belov’ed, now that we have made The golden secret ours--to hold alway We will not sorrow o’er departed hours-- Just live in God’s great glorious--To-day! JEWELS Oh, not the gracious deeds your kindness knew, dear, When shone my sun and skies were ever fair; But the more precious sympathies you tendered In sorrow’s hour. _Those_ my jewels rare Which dearer, than off’ring wealth knows to proffer, I’ll keep beside me whate’er may attend, Nor render up so long as Life’s day lasteth,-- Aye, and take with me, when shall plead its end. SOMETHING GONE You come to me--you take my hand, You try to make me see Things should become as they once were, ’Twixt you and me. I listen to each word, you say, I mark well ev’ry tone, Only to find--you plead in vain,-- There’s something gone. Something gone--that cannot come back again, Tho’ most entreatingly you pray. Yet, not mine the fault,--but yours alone, It went away. A-MAYING We will go a-Maying dear, Just you and I together, Oh, the glory of God’s blossoming Sunshiny weather! Ev’ry ill we will forget, Nor remember a regret, For ’twill never do to fret Whilst we are a-straying. Only laughter ringing clear, Waking echo far and near; You and I so happy dear; A-Maying! A-Maying! TRIBUTE To prove myself--aye, that’s my aim, To prove myself for those Who took me by the hand and held, Nor cared if others chose To notice or pass coldly by. Thro’ stormiest of weather Stood ever at my side, and said We’ll face the world together! GOOD-BYE _She_ Good-bye, yes, I’ve decided It’s best--it should not go _on_, The quite delightful companionship You and I, for some time, have known. No, do not try to dissuade me, I’ve thought it most carefully o’er, To arrive at but one conviction-- We must see each other no more. _He_ And you think to sever our friendship By a mere putting away, Letting the same, as it were, slip from us Nor permitting me to say, A word in defence of its going As if I’d no _right_ to share In the matter of decision I ask you,--Is it fair? _She_ Man-like you refuse to _reason_ To see it’s the only way, That the step really should have been taken Even _before_ to-day. With you ’tis quite diff’rent,--the matter,-- You’ve priv’lege entire of your life; But my freedom bows to restriction,-- I am another man’s wife. _He_