American Old Time Song Lyrics: 34 The Joys Of A Wedding Ring

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 34

THE JOYS OF A WEDDING-RING
Copyright, 1891, by Willis Woodward & Co.
Words by George Cooper. Arranged by Harvard Spencer.

He sat by the fireside, a white-haired old man,
The bells in the steeple their chiming began;
He smiled as he listened, for years long ago
Returned to him now with their joys all aglow.
By his side sat his wife, and he spoke of the time
When they walked to the church, while those bells rang their chime!
And she smiled in her joy, as he gave her a kiss,
For it brought to her mind all their dear olden bliss!

Chorus.
oh! for those days of gladness! Oh! for their dreams so bright!
Oh! for the sweet bells chiming, hopes of fond delight!
Past were those hours forever; their hearts were like the spring!
Angels above know no sweeter joy than joys of a wedding-ring!

They spoke of the children that played round their knee-
The boy that they cherished, ah, where now was he?
The cottage was lonely, and years had gone by,
They whispered his name with a tear and a nigh.
How they fondled the letters that told them their boy
Would again to that home bring them comfort And joy!
That was long years ago, but they tenderly yearned
For their dear sailor boy who had never returned!

Spoken-The fire burned bright, while the old couple gazed within it, and
fancied they saw their boy upon a rock-bound coast. He was tossing upon the,
waves, a shipwrecked sailor clinging to a mast! His last words seemed to fall
upon their ears: "God protect my father and mother!" Then the old man took
the hand of his wife and whispered soothingly that God would shield them in
their old days! The bells chimed without. When, hark! there came a loud tap
on the pane. A voice called them by name. The door flew open, and their
long lost boy was clasped to their hearts! Louder rang the chimes, and they
seemed to hear thro' all:- Chorus.