<h2><SPAN name="HER_BIRTHDAY" id="HER_BIRTHDAY"></SPAN>Her Birthday</h2>
<div class="poetry">
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0"><span class="letra">Y</span>OUR birthday, my girl with the tender eyes,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">And the dower of youth and zest,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">It is kind of heaven to give us this day,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">When the world is looking its best,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">When the crimson roses are all abloom<br/></span>
<span class="i2">With their sisters of paler grace,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">When the sun makes warm, and the dew makes glad<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Each velvety beautiful face.<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">When the breeze which comes seems a heavy breath,—<br/></span>
<span class="i2">From the lungs of the earth o’ergrown<br/></span>
<span class="i0">With the fairest things, and the sweetest things<br/></span>
<span class="i2">That ever was seen, or known,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">When the bird has an added note of pride<br/></span>
<span class="i2">In each carol of joy he sings,<br/></span>
<span class="i0"><i>Do you know? can you guess? my pretty mate,</i><br/></span>
<span class="i2"><i>And the wee things under my wings!</i><br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">Your birthday, my girl with the tender eyes<br/></span>
<span class="i2">And the fair young cheek and brow,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Your birthday, my girl with the smiling lips,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">What things shall I wish for you now?<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="page_101" id="page_101"></SPAN>{101}</span><br/></span>
<span class="i0">Come close—put your two hands into my own<br/></span>
<span class="i2">While I wish you a happy year,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">While I wish you the best that heaven can give<br/></span>
<span class="i2">To a maiden so sweet and dear.<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">While I wish you love with never a stint,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">For the riches of love are great—<br/></span>
<span class="i0">While I wish that shadows may flee your path,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">And the glorious sunshine wait,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">While I wish you the happiness, full and deep,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">The gladness and brightness of life,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">A place in your heart for the white dove of peace,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">But none for the whisper of strife.<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">Your birthday, my girl with the tender eyes<br/></span>
<span class="i2">And the shimmering braids of hair—<br/></span>
<span class="i0">I say as I look through a mist of tears,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">It is good to be young and fair,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">It is well to lean on the Father’s arm,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Love forces the words in a flood:<br/></span>
<span class="i0"><i>God bless my girl with the tender eyes!</i><br/></span>
<span class="i2"><i>God bless her and keep her good!</i><br/></span></div>
</div></div>
<p class="c"><ANTIMG src="images/deco.png" width-obs="25" alt="[Decorative image unavailable.]" /></p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="page_102" id="page_102"></SPAN>{102}</span></p>
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