Ballads of Peace in War

<h2> MY FATHER'S TUNES </h2> <p>My father had the gay good tunes, the like you'd seldom hear,<br/> A whole day could he whistle them, an' thin he'd up an' sing,<br/> The merry tunes an' twists o'them that suited all the year,<br/> An' you wouldn't ask but listen if yourself stood there a king.<br/> Early of a mornin' would he give "The Barefoot Boy" to us,<br/> An' later on "The Rocky Road" or maybe "Mountain Lark,"<br/> "Trottin' to the Fair" was a liltin' heart of joy to us,<br/> An' whin we heard "The Coulin" sure the night was never dark.<br/> <br/> An' what's the good o' foolish tunes, the moilin' folks 'ud say,<br/> It's better teach the children work an' get the crock o' gold;<br/> Thin sorra take their wisdom whin it makes them sad an' gray,&mdash;<br/> A man is fitter have a song that never lets him old.<br/> A stave of "Gillan's Apples" or a snatch of "Come Along With Me"<br/> Will warm the cockles o' your heart, an' life will keep its prime.<br/> Yarra, gold is all the richer whin it's "Danny, sing a song for me"<br/> Or what's the good o' money if you're dead afore your time.<br/> <br/> It's sense to do your turn o' work, it's healthy to be wise,<br/> An' have the little crock o' gold agin the day o' rain;<br/> But whin the ground is heaviest, your heart will feel the skies,<br/> If you know a little Irish song to lift the road o' pain.<br/> The learnin' an' the wealth we have are never sad an' gray with us,<br/> The dullest times in all the year are merry as the June:<br/> For we've the heart to up an' sing "Arise, an' come away with us,"<br/> The way my father gave it, an' we laughin' in the tune.<br/></p> <p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"></SPAN></p> <br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />