<h2><SPAN name="page127"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>BY-AND-BYE</h2>
<p class="poetry">“By-and-bye,” the maiden
sighed—“by-and-bye<br/>
He will claim me for his bride,<br/>
Hope is strong and time is fleet;<br/>
Youth is fair, and love is sweet,<br/>
Clouds will pass that fleck my sky,<br/>
He will come back by-and-bye—by-and-bye.”</p>
<p class="poetry">“By-and-bye,” the soldier
said—“by-and-bye,<br/>
After I have fought and bled,<br/>
I shall go home from the wars,<br/>
Crowned with glory, seamed with scars.<br/>
Joy will flash from some one’s eye<br/>
When she greets me by-and-bye—by-and-bye.”</p>
<p class="poetry">“By-and-bye,” the mother
cried—“by-and-bye,<br/>
Strong and sturdy at my side,<br/>
Like a staff supporting me,<br/>
Will my bonnie baby be.<br/>
Break my rest, then, wail and cry—<br/>
Thou’lt repay me by-and-bye—by-and-bye.”</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page128"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
128</span>Fleeting years of time have sped—hurried
by—<br/>
Still the maiden is unwed:<br/>
All unknown the soldier lies,<br/>
Buried under alien skies;<br/>
And the son, with blood-shot eye,<br/>
Saw his mother starve and die.<br/>
God in Heaven! dost Thou on high,<br/>
Keep the promised “by-and-bye”—by-and-bye?</p>
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