Let's be brave when the laughter dies And the tears come into our troubled eyes, Let's cling to the faith and the old belief When the skies grow gray with the clouds of grief, Let's bear the sorrow and hurt and pain And wait till the laughter comes again. Let's be brave when the trials come And our hearts are sad and our lips are dumb, Let's strengthen ourselves in the times of test By whispering softly that God knows best; Let us still believe, though we cannot know, We shall learn sometime it is better so. Let's be brave when the joy departs Till peace shall come to our troubled hearts, For the tears must fall and the rain come down And each brow be pressed to the thorny crown; Yet after the dark shall the sun arise, So let's be brave when the laughter dies. _Boy or Girl?_ Some folks pray for a boy, and some For a golden-haired little girl to come. Some claim to think there is more of joy Wrapped up in the smile of a little boy, While others pretend that the silky curls And plump, pink cheeks of the little girls Bring more of bliss to the old home place Than a small boy's queer little freckled face. Now which is better, I couldn't say If the Lord should ask me to choose to-day; If He should put in a call for me And say: "Now what shall your order be, A boy or girl? I have both in store-- Which of the two are you waiting for?" I'd say with one of my broadest grins: "Send either one, if it can't be twins." I've heard it said, to some people's shame, They cried with grief when a small boy came, For they wanted a girl. And some folks I know Who wanted a boy, just took on so When a girl was sent. But it seems to me That mothers and fathers should happy be To think, when the Stork has come and gone, That the Lord would trust them with either one. Boy or girl? There can be no choice; There's something lovely in either voice. And all that I ask of the Lord to do Is to see that the mother comes safely through And guard the baby and have it well, With a perfect form and a healthy yell, And a pair of eyes and a shock of hair. Then, boy or girl--and its dad won't care. _They're Waiting Over There_ They're waiting for us over there; The young, the beautiful and fair Who left us, oh, so long ago, Lonely and hurt on earth below, Are waiting bravely, never fear, Until our faces shall appear. Then, when our journey here is done, And we set out to follow on Through the great, heavy mantled door Which leads to rest forevermore, They will be there to laugh away The loneliness we feel to-day. They'll welcome us with wondrous grace, And show us all about the place; They'll take us gently by the hand And guide us through that radiant land; They'll tell us all they've learned and seen Through the long absence that has been.