early days.
177
When our mothers sat beside us,
With a mother's partial eye,
And thought their girls the fairest,
Though a thousand sylphs were by;
And we deemed that scene of pleasure,
Was just what life would be,—
We have learned a harsher measure,
And turned to grief from glee.
We have known the heart's deep sorrow,
Since those happy days were past;
We have seen each coming morrow
Look darker than the last;
We have wept in bitter anguish,
And felt how sharp the sting,
When some fair, but fragile blossom,
In our arms lay withering:
But we've garnered hopes immortal,
That we knew not of before,
And yet have hours of gladness,
Though our girlhood days are o'er.
With a mother's partial eye,
And thought their girls the fairest,
Though a thousand sylphs were by;
And we deemed that scene of pleasure,
Was just what life would be,—
We have learned a harsher measure,
And turned to grief from glee.
We have known the heart's deep sorrow,
Since those happy days were past;
We have seen each coming morrow
Look darker than the last;
We have wept in bitter anguish,
And felt how sharp the sting,
When some fair, but fragile blossom,
In our arms lay withering:
But we've garnered hopes immortal,
That we knew not of before,
And yet have hours of gladness,
Though our girlhood days are o'er.
