Ballads of Peace in War

THE TIME OF TRUCE

    Two young lads from childhood up
    Drank together friendship's cup:
    Joe was glad with Bill at play,
    Bill was home to Joe alway.

    On their friendship came the blight
    Of a little thoughtless fight;
    Then, alas! each passing day
    Farther bore these friends away.

    There was grief in either heart,
    Bleeding deep from sorrow's dart,
    When in thoughtfulness again
    Each beheld the other's pain.

    But the shades of night are furled
    When the morning takes the world,
    And the Christmas days of peace
    Make our little quarrels cease.

    Bill and Joe on Christmas Day
    Met as in the olden way;
    Bill put out his hand to Joe,—
    It was Christmas Day, you know.

    Bill and Joe are friends again,
    And to them long years remain;
    Time may take them far away,
    They keep Christmas every day.