And what Dame Care then promised to you, Life has so faithfully made it true In sighs and weeping and ever and aye, In troubles of weary working-day, In pain of so many a sleepless night, With need and torment ever in sight.
And you are gray, your strength grew lame, But ever still the deep-veiled Dame Walks with fixed eyes and blessing hand All through the poor house, to pa.s.s without end From the tables so poor to the chests so bare.
From threshold to threshold, and blows in the glare Of the flame on the hearth, and ever and aye Rivets the weary day to the day.
O dearest parents, don"t cease to strive, And as you had work and cares all your life, A life so hard and a life so long, So will at last from Heaven descend A day of rest when care has an end.
We boys are young, and we can strive, Our courage is still fresh in life.
We know how to fight with care and need, And where luck"s flower is blooming so sweet.
Soon we return, and when we are there, We laughingly turn her out, gray Dame Care.
II. DU (_Thou_) AND SIR (_You_), pages 68, 115, 116: References to the German use of the former p.r.o.noun to denote greater intimacy than the latter implies.
III. AUGUST, page 143: Name of the chief clown in the Berlin Circus.
IV. POLTERABEND, page 275; Evening before the wedding. In some parts of Germany it is customary for the friends of the bride to bring old china or gla.s.s, which they smash before her door.
THE END.