WHEN A MERRY MAIDEN MARRIES.

When a merry maiden marries,

Sorrow goes and pleasure tarries;

Every sound becomes a song,

All is right and nothing's wrong!

From to-day and ever after

Let your tears be tears of laughter —

Every sigh that finds a vent

Be a sigh of sweet content!

When you marry merry maiden,

Then the air with love is laden;

Every flower is a rose,

Every goose becomes a swan,

Every kind of trouble goes

Where the last year's snows have gone!

Sunlight takes the place of shade

When you marry merry maid!

When a merry maiden marries

Sorrow goes and pleasure tarries;

Every sound becomes a song,

All is right, and nothing's wrong.

Gnawing Care and aching Sorrow,

Get ye gone until to-morrow;

Jealousies in grim array,

Ye are things of yesterday!

When you marry merry maiden,

Then the air with joy is laden;

All the corners of the earth

Ring with music sweetly played,

Worry is melodious mirth.

Grief is joy in masquerade;

Sullen night is laughing day —

All the year is merry May!