Old Friends

Old friends! Old scenes, old haunts fur me

Where love is true an’ life is free,

Where neighbors come an’ set by night

An’ talk acrost the candlelight.

Where fragrant friendship sends perfume

Acrost the dimly lighted room.

Old friends! There is a warmer glow

Upon the face we uster know!

There is a pressure uv the hand

That makes the tired soul expand.

There is a welcome in the voice

That makes the tired heart rejoice.

Old friends! Give me the same tonight,

Give me the softened candlelight.

Give me the kitchen stove, the heat

Which makes a wand’rer’s life complete.

Give me the sympathy an’ glow

Uv hearts I cherished long ago.

Dec. 3, 1912