[Illustration]

And then my boy--as he growed to be
Almost a man in size,--
Was more than a pride and joy to me,
With his mother's smilin' eyes.--
He gimme the slip, when the War broke out,
And followed me. And I
Never knowed till the first right's end ...
I found him, and then, ... "Good-by."

It's _got_ to be, and it's _goin'_ to be!
So at least I always try
To kind o' say, in a patient way,
"Well, it's _got_ to be. Good-by!"

I have said, "Good-by!--Good-by!--Good-by!"
With my very best good will,
All through life from the first,--and I
Am a cheerful old man still:

But it's _got_ to end, and it's _goin'_ to end!
And this is the thing I'll do,--
With my last breath I will laugh, O Death,
And say "Good-by" to _you_!...

It's _got_ to be! And again I say,--
When his old scythe circles high,
I'll laugh--of course, in the kindest way,--
As I say "Good-by!--Good-by!"