Friendship, Love, and Truth

FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, AND TRUTH.

When friendship, love, and truth abound Among a band of brothers, The cup of joy goes gaily round. Each shares the bliss of others. Sweet roses grace the thorny way Along this vale of sorrow; And flowers that shed their leaves today Shall bloom _again tomorrow. How grand in age, how fair in youth, Are holy friendship, love, and truth!

On halcyon wings our moments pass. Life's cruel cares beguiling. Old time lays down his scythe and glass, In gay good-humor smiling; With ermine beard and forelock gray. His reverend front adorning. He looks like winter turn'd to May, Night soften'd into morning. How grand in age, how fair in youth, Are holy friendship, love, and truth!

From these delightful fountains flow Ambrosial rills of pleasure; Can man desire, can heaven bestow, A more resplendent treasure? Adorn'd with gems so richly bright. We'll form a constellation. Where every star, with modest light, Shall gild his proper station. How grand in age, how fair in youth, Are holy friendship, love, and truth! Montgomery.