Little lady at the altar,
Vowing by God’s book and psalter
To be faithful, fond and true
Unto him who stands by you,
Think not that romance is ended,
That youth’s curtain has descended,
And love’s pretty play is done;
For it’s only just begun.
Marriage, blushing little lady,
Is love’s sunny path and shady,
Over which two hearts should wander,
Of each other growing fonder.
As you stroll to each to-morrow,
You will come to joy and sorrow,
And as faithful man and wife
Read the troubled book of life.
Bitter cares will some day find you;
Closer, closer they will bind you;
If together you will bear them,
Cares grow sweet when lovers share them.
Love unites two happy mortals,
Brings them here to wedlock’s portals
And then blithely bids them go,
Arm in arm, through weal and woe.
Little lady, just remember
Every year has its December,
Every rising sun its setting,
Every life its time of fretting;
And the honeymoon’s sweet beauty
Finds too soon the clouds of duty;
But keep faith, when trouble-tried,
And in joy you shall abide.
Little lady at the altar,
Never let your courage falter,
Never stoop to unbelieving,
Even when your heart is grieving.
To what comes of wintry weather
Or disaster, stand together;
Through life’s fearful hours of night
Love shall bring you to the light.
