By-And-Bye

"By-and-bye," the maiden sighed - "by-and-bye     He will claim me for his bride,     Hope is strong and time is fleet;     Youth is fair, and love is sweet,     Clouds will pass that fleck my sky,     He will come back by-and-bye - by-and-bye."     "By-and-bye," the soldier said - "by-and-bye,     After I have fought and bled,     I shall go home from the wars,     Crowned with glory, seamed with scars.     Joy will flash from some one's eye     When she greets me by-and-bye - by-and-bye."     "By-and-bye," the mother cried - "by-and-bye,     Strong and sturdy at my side,     Like a staff supporting me,     Will my bonnie baby be.     Break my rest, then, wail and cry -     Thou'lt repay me by-and-bye - by-and-bye."     Fleeting years of time have sped - hurried by -     Still the maiden is unwed:     All unknown the soldier lies,     Buried under alien skies;     And the son, with blood-shot eye,     Saw his mother starve and die.     God in Heaven! dost Thou on high,     Keep the promised "by-and-bye" - by-and-bye?