How sweet the early life of those
Whose hearts and hands are bound together!
O, sweet as childhood’s calm repose,
Those days of bright and sunny weather.
Their bark is on the stream of life,
And no dark cloud is gath’ring o’er it,
There comes no sound of stormy strife,
To sweep that little bark before it.
The elements now sweetly rest,
Or with an infant’s strength are playing
Around the bark on ocean’s breast,
In that sweet spot with joy delaying.
Now in the gently breathing spring,
The south wind in its course hath found them;
And, like an insect’s fluttering wing,
But stirs the balmy air around them.
O, sweet spring time of life! how sad
The thought thou canst not always linger;
But when the heart beats warm and glad,
’Tis touch’d by winter’s icy finger.
Poor little bark! ’twill not be long
Thou’lt bear them on through life so sweetly;
When wintry winds blow fierce and strong,
This lovely scene will change completely.
Well, let them come! when all grows dark,
They’ll share the gloom, and keep the nearer;
Affection lights a brilliant spark,
And sadden’d love grows ever dearer.
When heart meets heart, the life blood warm
Will never freeze in wintry weather;
If comes the cold and biting storm,
Those two fond hearts can beat together.