The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 29 October 1908, Page 37

The Family Circle

MY NEIGHBOR'S GIRL "

My neighbor's girl is a snow-white bride, Her frock's as white as my hair, And her little- 1 head bends 'neath her bridal wreath As low -as mine's bowed with care ; Her eyes are dimmed by her misty veil, And dim are mine, too, with tears, Her lover stands by and he whispers low— Oh, long are the weary years ! O God, be good to the little white wife, Late come her woman's dole — My man he sleeps in the clear green sea, O God, be good to his soul 1 My neighbor's wife . lies still and pale, But her smiling eyes are wide, / For a little head nests at her curving breast, Her tender heart beside ; And little she recks of her .woman's pain, Awaited with woman's fears, As her man-child stirs in his rosy sleep— Oh, long are the weary years ! O God, be kind to the rosy child, Late come his mother's dole ' The clover grows over my baby's head— O God, keep safe his soul ! My neighbor's hands fold close the cross That lies on his quiet breast, The candles gleam at his head and his feet, And the priest prays long for his rest. The din of the noisy world without Rolls over his patient ears To break on my waiting, aching heart— Oh, long are the weary years ! O God, be good to the toiling man, Short be his cleansing dole— My heart's apart from this weary earth, O God, call home my soul ! Appleton's Magazine