American Old Time Song Lyrics: 53 Is That Love

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 53

IS THAT LOVE?
Copyright, 1896, by The Zeno Mauvais Music Co
Words by Max Steinle. Music by Lee Johnson.

On a stormy Christmas eve,
Wand'ring through the streets alone;
Scorned by all who pass her by,
Stray'd an outcast without home.
She falls fainting in a doorway:
See her strength is ebbing fast,
When the door a young man opens.
He's about to pass.
With her pleading voice she stops him,
he turns 'round, and with a start,
Sees her face, he cries my sister,
And he takes her to his heart.

Chorus.
Is that love? Is that love?
Is that what we call love?
Is It not a tender feeling,
In a noble heart revealing
All that's good, true and kind?
Such a love's hard to find,
Where the heart is true and faithful-
Is that love? Is that love?

They found him by the roadside dead,
Poor and rugged tramp unknown,
Old and friendless, left alone,
And a stranger, for from home.
Closely to his heart pressed fondly,
Was a baby's little shoe.
In his hand he held a letter
And its story true.
In the note these few lines written:
''Please don't take my baby's shoe;
Wife and baby gone before me,
And I wish to join them, too.- Chorus.

Pleading in the witness stand,
Begging mercy for his son,
Cries a father to the judge:
"Don't punish him for what he's done,
He's the only child I have, sir.
Mother died long years ago;
It's the first time he's offended,
Please, sir, let him go."
In the court-room all is silent,
As the judge forgives the boy;
Happy father kneels before him,
Blessing him in all his joy.- Chorus.

See there goes a working girl,
See her weary, care-worn face,
Trudging to her humble home,
Although poor, 'tis no disgrace.
She toils on through all the hardships,
Which she's fated to endure.
Well she knows the bitter feelings,
Which oppress the poor.
She cares not for self, but others,
For a mother old and gray,
For her little sister Nellie,
I She is lolling day by day.- Chorus.