Class __ Book 1 Gopyrightlsi COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. ■ 1896 1911 jFeftruarp I9t& #ur JFtfteentjj Wlebtitng &mutoersarp Wio0t anb Abraham fetemftets copyrighted, 1911 Abraham Sternberg ^ \<\\\ To my Dear Wife, who has been the inspiration for the modest ex- pressions of gratitude and affection that appear on the following pages, this book is lovingly dedicated. JUa Qi>i ILorU ^Baltimore ©re** BALTIMORE, MD., U.S. A. CCI.A280927 r; .a $®V ^ucftlebetrp %>otn 3 Sale of Hobe ant STrabd Greetings i Spoonep again Our Wedding Dap Lovers always We always go together! E'en when footsteps falter Well ! well ! see the folks around, . Dressed up in their smartest gowns, Come to shake and wish us joy- No— there is no baby boy You have me, and I have you, You're my huckleberry doo! Who says mushy? may be, yes; For a little fond caress From my sweetheart, lifts the load- Makes a brighter, sweeter road. Fifteen years ago to-day T'was, that I was shown the way To that sweetly happy life, That you've made mine— dearest wife. Summer's sun and winter's snow, Passed us by, and still as beaux, With the help of God above. Thrilled dear, with his song of love, Arm in arm and hearts as one. May these celebrations come. Then— when many years have flown, And we've both much older grown, 5 MY HUCKLEBERRY DOO! And eyes are dim Just another fond caress, Arm a stealin' 'round your dress, We will for the million'th time Whisper coyly this sweet rhyme: The sweetest story ever told! You have me, and I have you, You're my huckleberry doo! Welcome- merry crew! Folks, t'was good of you to come, Now we're in for lots of fun, Young and old— it's all the same Age means nothing but the name. Our Parents, God bless 'em! Let us have a mother's dance, Papa too— we'll give a chance, For, thank God, they're just as spry Full of vim and keen of eye, We're but as young as we feel thirsty eh! As the youngest in the bunch, No indeed— there's no more lunch, But should you be getting dry- Let the Sauterne's stoppers fly. We won't come home until morning ' ' May the walls ring out with song- And the evening we'll prolong Way past bed time folks, for you- And for this young couple too. Let loose the confetti! For indeed we're newly wed And the years that may have fled Seem like but a precious dream ; Golden moments— by the ream. 6 MY HUCKLEBERRY DOO! Humble appreciation ! Oft, we've whispered far above Thanks, for His abiding love For the kindness He has wrought, Wealth indeed, could ne'er have bought E'en the smallest, dearest part Of our happiness, sweetheart. What if skies were gray or blue, What if friends were false or true Our glorious duet! To the winds all care we'd fling- And this glad refrain we'd sing : You have me, and I have you, You're my huckleberry doo! What's pour hurry? Burning the midnight oil Some one say it's time to quit? Patience— just a little bit — Think of all the moments spent In deep study, to invent Foxp-Quiller Sentences that might amuse Yet dear folks— t'was but a ruse That I might the world acquaint And in this pen picture paint Honor to whom honor is due Just a titheing of what's due, My dear little wife to you For the happy life we've led Since the dear old rabbi said: The knot— beautiful You have me, and I have you, You're my huckleberry doo! MY HUCKLEBERRY DOO! Tickets please! Thousand Islands The St. Lawrence Rubber ! Quebec Cape Eternity The Saguenay Over countless miles we've strayed, Auld Lang Syne we've heard it played Far away in other climes, 'Midst the clinking of the steins. We have coursed the nooks and wiles Of the wondrous Thousand Isles, The St. Lawrence — palest blue— What a debt we owe to you For the ever changing scene For its banks with verdure green, How I stood and craned my neck As we neared grand old Quebec; With its ramparts frowning high, Close against the darkened sky. Past Quebec we sailed and soon As the sun pierced through the gloom- Shining full from shore to shore What a picture t'was we saw! Cragged rocks, that rose on high, Till they seemed to reach the sky! Darkened waters, black as ink- None could help but pause, and think Of the mystic work of God, Surely some enchanted rod Must have cleaved this chasm deep, Through the mountains rising steep Each side, in majestic way Of the river Saguenay. MY HUCKLEBERRY DOO! All aboard! Feeding the fishes For she's a jolly good fellow London Nothing good enough Brussels Parlez vous Francois ! Hoch der Kaiser! Die Wacht am Rhein Heidelberg Tipsp again: Careful- you'll fall! The " Sweitz " Gee! it's cold O'er the ocean wide we've sped — More than once my dearest said, "You may think this very fine, But my, my, New York for mine!" But once o'er, all was forgot Rose was "Johnny on the spot." First in dressy London town Sought we — an imported gown- But we looked and looked in vain Nought we found, .but rain ! rain ! rain ! On— past meadows,— fields,— we flew, Till Chic Brussels loomed in view Paris in a smaller home Frenchy— clear through to the bone. Thence to Koln— we did jump, In the Kaiser's realm to bunt On the Rhine we sailed along Life was just one grand sweet song, Till we landed on the Pfass At Heidelberg,— wie gross war dass! Where we both felt mighty queer- Too much German lager beer! Near the Alps our engine flies Into nature's paradise! Switzerland the garden fair, Who that once has lingered there 'Mongst the peaks of snow and ice Thinks one visit will suffice. 9 MY HUCKLEBERRY DOO! Paris— when Reuben comes to town Winsome— Buxom— Gay Par-ee Next we yokels went to see, On the boulevards so fine, In cafes — from after nine, Night owls Busted! Till the break of early dawn, Did we watch the surging throng - All as we on pleasure bent, Till they scarce had left a cent. Retrospection A kiss' a kiss for a' that Little time to ruminate Yet this much ran through my " pate. Whether English— German— Swiss — It was just the same sweet kiss, Under the harvest moon Whether French or Volapuk, Just the same dear quiet nook, And the grass was just as gre'en- And the same moon it did beam How we looked— see Frontispiece ! Home sweet home! On the bench that held we two, 'Neath the heavens starry blue As at home, miles, miles beyond, Far across the salty pond! And we huddled just as tight, Our busy dap And we noted not time's flight, As the moments we'd beguile Patriots ever! Echoing in Yankee style. You have me, and I have you, You're my huckleberry doo. 10 MY HUCKLEBERRY DOO! Our limitations Our fervent wish Our golden wedding Two-lip-salve A little guardian angel of the troubled Sweethearts Through Eternity! We who dwell on earthly sphere May not through the future peer, It is but for us to pray That it be the good Lord's way, As the years go sweeping by— He will grant, that you and I Live in health to celebrate Many days, dear, from this date, Fifty years of golden bliss— Come, dear, seal this with a kiss. So-until this journey's o'er And I've reached another shore. May your kiss be ever near, You— who more than life are dear— And when I've been called away, Please God, dear, that you will stay, Stay to honor, cherish, bless— With your gentle touch caress Those, who 'midst the toil and strife, Of this passing dream called life May need, comfort, solace, cheer, Then— anon, past many a year, Some day, dear, again I'll twine Your pure, loving soul with mine, Then again— as one— we'll roam In God's great immortal home — Where in clarion accents sweet We for all time-will repeat You have me, and I have you, You're my huckleberry doo ! 11 21 laetoerie 1896 1909 IRoge and &lie Sternberg ffl>ur Cftirteentft MeODtnjj anntoersarp a Eetierte To My Dear Rose : Evening of the 18th, morning of the 19th of February, 1909 We were seated by the fire— Rose and I, 'twas just we two, And the wind outside it whistled, goodness gracious, how it blew! For a while, we sat in silence, till at last 'twas Dear Rose spoke, She'd been thinking too, as I had, while the fragrant scented smoke Slowly rose in shapes fantastic, thinly vanished into space ; Of the days that had rolled past us, since at God's ap- pointed place Our two hearts were bound together ; almost twelve years flown since then— Can it be ? We'd scarce believe it, yet 'tis written of the pen. 15 A REVERIE Deep inscribed within our hearts, Dear, ne'er in life to be effaced, Is that sweetly blessed moment, whence our happiness is traced, When our souls were joined forever— aye— till our allotted time ; Little did I know, my Sweetheart, what a Priceless Rose was As the summer evening star shines wondrous bright- near deepest blue, So forever does your love, Dear, shed its lustre o'er we two, And its rays my path illumine, turn life's night, Dear, into day, Every spur my best endeavors, that I may be shown the way, To at least be part deserving of God's kindness unto me, Throughout all these years, My Dearest, what a life of constancy— Of devotion, self negation, little thought for gain or pleasure, Worldly riches was as nought; Peace, Contentment is our treasure. Let us pause, and look around us, see the changes Time has wrought, Since the days in Cupid's meshes, we, so willingly, were caught. Sisters who were only children, on the threshold of their lives In the twelve months that just passed us, have been mated— Happy Brides! 16 A REVERIE With proud husbands— fond and loving— fair as azure in the sky, May their lives be — e'en as God has vouchsafed to Dear, You and I. Kind and gentle have the years been to our Parents, watchful still- As in days when we as children, to their arms with voices shrill, Flew for haven, rest, for shelter, when our childish minds beset With imaginary troubles— so we find there, solace yet; By our faithfulness, devotion, thoughtful kindness night and day, Shall we strive the debt we owe them, in some measure to repay; May we clearly see our duty, execute it half so well As did they, no finer tribute— to our worth —could mankind tell. And the babes that were— the infants — scarce begun to coo and play, Staunch young fellows, charming maidens— launched are now —on life's glad way, May we all, Youth, Age, together, hand in hand, 'round circle merry Laugh away, Time's tinge of sadness and e'en like unto the fairy, Who with magic wand uplifted, brushes trace of years aside, Let our spirit — ever youthful — be alike our strength — and pride. 17 A REVERIE The dying coals, fitfully, were glowing in the grate; A sudden blast— the windows shook, the air grew chill— 'twas late; 'Midst pleasant memories of the past, the evening— wings had taken, Tis time, My Dear, that we should rest, to-morrow when we waken Another lap will have been passed, another twelve-month fled; A dozen years and one sped by since You and I were wed. There's naught but ashes on the hearth— not e'en a glim- mer of light, Then come, My Dear, to pleasant dreams,— One Little Kiss -Good Night! The sunlit beams of early dawn were dancing on the floor, They beckoned us — 'tis time to rise, the night is passed — no more Of retrospect, of reverie, though happy it may be, But to the Future, full of life, of hope, of love with Thee, Now shall we turn; let glasses clink, and merry voices sing, That each recurrence of this day, its message, too, will bring— Of Endless Happiness ! Content ! e'en as the billows roar And break, and fall upon the sands, now— and forevermore ! 18 2L Wtx&itlt * Written on the occaeion of our Centft GHeDDing annfoetsarp A dull grey mist arose from out the night, The silvery clouds, parting in their flight A tiny rift shown forth, from tinted sky Lifting with radiant gleam— the darkness nigh ! The murky haze fell softly as the dew, Unveiling, in their wondrous blue The heavens, whence a brilliant stream of gold Dispelled the gloom of night, the birth of day foretold ! T'was thus, ten happy years ago— one February morn The sun peered forth, with gentle warmth — illumining the dawn, « And ushering, that day— that hour— most blessed in my lrfe. That moment, when my sweetheart, was proclaimed— my dear- est wife. That moment, when two youthful hearts, already linked in love, Were joined with God's majestic words, His blessings from above, When our young souls, in sentences infinitely divine Were pledged as one, as ever one, throughout the lapse of time. 2J A VERSICLE Oh, that I had the power of mind to properly portray And picture, with my humble pen and in my humble way, The happiness, the love sublime— unspeakable ! in prose or rhyme That you've imparted unto me, for surely t'is his mystery, How in that little heart of thine, the Lord so perfectly en- twined So much that's good, ennobling, true— t'is but the privilege of a few Of we poor mortals dwelling here, to live with paradise so near ! See the merry, happy throng— hear the laughter, voices, song ! Welcome friends, dear ones, thrice welcome to you all ! Who've gathered around us here to-night, at memory's fond recall. Who've watched with us the fleeting years, as quick they glided by, Until the advent of the dawn this happy day brought nigh. Who've noted too with gladdening hearts, how in the years sped past, The Lord in cheerful, pleasant moulds, our lives so kindly cast, Who've come to grasp our hands again, in loving, warm em- brace, And wish us, that the next decade, of nought but joy leave trace. * 22 A VERSICLE While in the spirit of the time, you share with us our cheer and wine, Perchance you'll call upon the host to make response to just one toast, Then will I turn dear ones to thee— the toast shall be, out family, Though fortune smile or turn away, their hearts will ever with us stay. To parents dear, who've guided us from childhood to this hour, Who've reared us fondly, lovingly, and given in their power All that they could, to bend our lives in paths of truth and right, To shield us from all earthly harm, to put all sorrow to flight. As each twelve-months shall have passed by, until ten more have fled, Please God, t'will then be twenty years, that you and I are wed, May we again surrounded be, by all who are here to-night ; E'en though eyes may have dimmer grown, gray locks Ijave turned to white. The clock on yonder mantel, onward speeds its endless way, With ceaseless toil it labors, nor stops at close of day ; From early morn to darkening night, its chimes in merry tone Peal forth a greeting to the hours, as o'er its dial they roam. 23 A VERSICLE May you and I thus ever greet the years that swiftly roll With happy, smiling countenance, with peace of mind and soul, Look ! where the faithful time-piece points ; the night's fast on the wane, Then let us, as in days of yore, renew that pledge again. ♦ Come hither, dear, draw closer, rest gently in my arms As you have done these many years, far from the world's alarms, Clasp firm your little hands in mine, Heart and Spirit near thee ; May God forever find us thus— unto Eternity ! 24 FEB 21 191* One copy del. to Cat. Div. I