Riley Songs of Friendship Part 8

The old emotion, sweet and wild, That drove him truant when a child,

That he might hide the tears that fell Above the lesson--"Little Nell."

And so it is he puts aside The poem he has vainly tried

To follow; and, as one who sighs In failure, through a poor disguise

Of smiles, he dries his tears, to say His eyes are not themselves to-day.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The old school-chum--tailpiece]

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[Ill.u.s.tration: My jolly friend's secret--headpiece]

MY JOLLY FRIEND'S SECRET

Ah, friend of mine, how goes it Since you've taken you a mate?-- Your smile, though, plainly shows it Is a very happy state!

Dan Cupid's necromancy!

You must sit you down and dine, And lubricate your fancy With a gla.s.s or two of wine.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: Ah, friend of mine, how goes it]

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And as you have "deserted,"

As my other chums have done, While I laugh alone diverted, As you drop off one by one--- And I've remained unwedded, Till--you see--look here--that I'm, In a manner, "s.n.a.t.c.hed bald-headed"

By the sportive hand of Time!

I'm an "old 'un!" yes, but wrinkles Are not so plenty, quite, As to cover up the twinkles Of the _boy_--ain't I right?

Yet there are ghosts of kisses Under this mustache of mine My mem'ry only misses When I drown 'em out with wine.

From acknowledgment so ample, You would hardly take me for What I am--a perfect sample Of a "jolly bachelor"; Not a bachelor has being When he laughs at married life But his heart and soul's agreeing That he ought to have a wife!

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Ah, ha! old chum, this claret, Like Fatima, holds the key Of the old Blue-Beardish garret Of my hidden mystery!

Did you say you'd like to listen?

Ah, my boy! the "_Sad No More!_"

And the tear-drops that will glisten-- _Turn the catch upon the door,_

And sit you down beside me And put yourself at ease-- I'll trouble you to slide me That wine decanter, please; The path is kind o' mazy Where my fancies have to go, And my heart gets sort o' lazy On the journey--don't you know?

Let me see--when I was twenty-- It's a lordly age, my boy, When a fellow's money's plenty, And the leisure to enjoy--

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And a girl--with hair as golden As--_that_; and lips--well--quite As red as _this_ I'm holdin'

Between you and the light?

And eyes and a complexion-- Ah, heavens!--le'-me-see-- Well,--just in this connection,-- _Did you lock that door for me?_ Did I start in recitation My past life to recall?

Well, _that's_ an indication I am purty tight--that's all!

[Ill.u.s.tration: My jolly friend's secret--tailpiece]

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IN THE HEART OF JUNE

In the heart of June, love, You and I together, On from dawn till noon, love, Laughing with the weather; Blending both our souls, love, In the selfsame tune, Drinking all life holds, love, In the heart of June.

In the heart of June, love, With its golden weather, Underneath the moon, love, You and I together.

Ah! how sweet to seem, love, Drugged and half aswoon With this luscious dream, love, In the heart of June.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: The old band--headpiece]

THE OLD BAND

It's mighty good to git back to the old town, sh.o.r.e, Considerin' I've be'n away twenty year and more.

Sence I moved then to Kansas, of course I see a change, A-comin' back, and notice things that's new to me and strange; Especially at evening when yer new band-fellers meet, In fancy uniforms and all, and play out on the street-- . . . What's come of old Bill Lindsey and the Saxhorn fellers--say?

I want to hear the _old_ band play.

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What's come of Eastman, and Nat Snow? And where's War Barnett at?

And Nate and Bony Meek; Bill Hart; Tom Richa'son and that- Air brother of him played the drum as twic't as big as Jim; And old Hi Kerns, the carpenter--say, what's become o' him?

I make no doubt yer _new band_ now's a _competenter_ band, And plays their music more by note than what they play by hand, And stylisher and grander tunes; but somehow--anyway, I want to hear the _old_ band play.

Sich tunes as "John Brown's Body" and "Sweet Alice," don't you know; And "The Camels is A-comin'," and "John Anderson, my Jo"; And a dozent others of 'em--"Number Nine" and "Number 'Leven"

Was favo-_rites_ that fairly made a feller dream o' Heaven.

And when the boys 'u'd saranade, I've laid so still in bed I've even heerd the locus'-blossoms droppin' on the shed When "Lilly Dale," er "Hazel Dell," had sobbed and died away-- . . . I want to hear the _old_ band play.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: I want to hear the old band play]