It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it
home,
A heap o’ sun an’ shadder, an’ ye sometimes
have t’ roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef’
behind,
An’ hunger fer ‘em somehow, with ’em allus
on yer mind.
It don’t make any differunce how rich ye get
t’ be,
How much yer chairs an’ tables cost, how great
yer luxury;
It ain’t home t’ ye, though it be the palace of a
king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o’ wrapped round
everything.
Home ain’t a place that gold can buy or get up
in a minute;
Afore it’s home there’s got t’ be a heap o’ livin’
in it;
Within the walls there’s got t’ be some babies
born, and then
Right there ye’ve got t’ bring 'em up t’ women
good, an’ men;
And gradjerly as time goes on, ye find ye
wouldn’t part
With anything they ever used—they’ve grown
into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the
little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an’ if ye could ye’d keep the
thumb-marks on the door.
Ye’ve got t’ weep t’ make it home, ye’ve got t’
sit an’ sigh
An’ watch beside a loved one’s bed, an’ know
that Death is nigh;
An’ in the stillness o’ the night t’ see Death’s
angel come,
An’ close the eyes o’ her that smiled, an’ leave
her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an’
when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an’
sanctified;
An’ tuggin’ at ye always are the pleasant
memories
O’ her that was an’ is no more—ye can’t escape
from these.
Ye’ve got t’ sing an’ dance fer years, ye’ve got
t’ romp an’ play,
An’ learn t’ love the things ye have by usin’ ‘em
each day;
Even the roses ’round the porch must blossom
year by year
Afore they 'come a part o’ ye, suggestin’
someone dear
Who used t’ love 'em long ago, an’ trained 'em
jes t’ run
The way they do, so’s they would get the early
mornin’ sun;
Ye’ve got t’ love each brick an’ stone from
cellar up t’ dome:
It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it
home.
Other works by Edgar Albert Guest...
