She is fair to see and sweet, br Dainty from her head to feet, br Modest, as her blushing shows, br Happy, as her smiles disclose, br And the young man at her side br Nervously attempts to hide br Underneath a visage grim br That the fuss is bothering him. br br Pause a moment, happy pair! br This is not the station where br Romance ends, and wooing stops br And the charm from courtship drops; br This is but the outward gate br Where the souls of mortals mate, br But the border of the land br You must travel hand in hand. br br You who come to marriage, bring br All your tenderness, and cling br Steadfastly to all the ways br That have marked your wooing days. br You are only starting out br On life's roadways, hedged about br Thick with roses and with tares, br Sweet delights and bitter cares. br br Heretofore you've only played br At love's game, young man and maid; br Only known it at its best; br Now you'll have to face its test. br You must prove your love worth while, br Something time cannot defile, br Something neither care nor pain br Can destroy or mar or stain. br br You are now about to show br Whether love is real or no; br Yonder down the lane of life br You will find, as man and wife, br Sorrows, disappointments, doubt, br Hope will almost flicker out; br But if rightly you are wed br Love will linger where you tread. br br There are joys that you will share, br Joys to balance every care; br Arm in arm remain, and you br Will not fear the storms that brew, br If when you are sorest tried br You face your trials, side by side. br Now your wooing days are done, br And your loving years begun.