When Day is Done   By: Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959)

by

EDGAR A. GUEST

1921

To S.H.D. A real friend who never knows when day is done

INDEX

Age of Ink, The All for the Best Always Saying "Don't!" Autumn Evenings Aw Gee Whiz!

Bedtime Better Job, The Bob White Book of Memory. The Boy and His Dad, A Boy and His Dog, A Boy and His Stomach, A Boy and the Flag, The Boy O'Mine Brothers All

Call of the Woods, The "Carry On" Castor Oil Chip on Your Shoulder, The Christmas Carol, A Christmas Gift for Mother, The Cleaning the Furnace Committee Meetings Contradictin' Joe Cookie Jar, The Couldn't Live Without You Cure for Weariness, The

Dan McGann Declares Himself Deeds of Anger, The

Family Row, A Father's Wish, A Feller's Hat, A Fellowship of Books, The Forgotten Boyhood

God Made This Day for Me Golf Luck Good Little Boy, The Grate Fire, The Green Apple Time

Happy Man, The He's Taken Out His Papers Home and the Office Homely Man, The How Do You Buy Your Money?

I Ain't Dead Yet I'd Rather Be a Failure If I Had Youth If This Were All

Joys of Home, The Joys We Miss, The Just a Boy

Kick Under the Table, The

Leader of the Gang Learn to Smile Life Is What We Make It Life's Single Standard Little Girls Are Best Little Wrangles Lonely Looking Back Loss Is Not So Great, The Lucky Man, The

Ma and the Ouija Board Making of Friends, The Memorial Day Mother's Day My Religion

No Better Land Than This No Children! No Room for Hate Nothing to Laugh At No Use Sighin'

Old Mister Laughter Old Years and New

Pa and the Monthly Bills Peaks of Valor, The Practicing Time Pretending Not to See

Safe at Home Satisfied With Life She Mothered Five She Powders Her Nose Simple' Things, The Sittin' on the Porch Song of the Builder, The Spoiler, The Summer Dreams

Things You Can't Forget, The Three Me's, The To a Little Girl To an Old Friend Too Big a Price Trouble Brings Friends True Man, The

Vanished Joy, A

"Wait Till Your Pa Comes Home" We're Dreamers All What Home's Intended For What I Call Living What Is Success? What Makes an Artist What We Need When Day Is Done When Friends Drop In When Ma Wants Something New When Mother's Sewing Buttons On When Sorrow Comes When The Minister Calls When We Play the Fool When We're All Alike When We Understand the Plan Where Children Play "Where's Mamma?" Wide Outdoors, The Willing Horse, The With Dog and Gun World and Bud, The

When Day Is Done

When day is done and the night slips down, And I've turned my back on the busy town, And come once more to the welcome gate Where the roses nod and the children wait, I tell myself as I see them smile That life is good and its tasks worth while.

When day is done and I've come once more To my quiet street and the friendly door, Where the Mother reigns and the children play And the kettle sings in the old time way, I throw my coat on a near by chair And say farewell to my pack of care.

When day is done, all the hurt and strife And the selfishness and the greed of life, Are left behind in the busy town; I've ceased to worry about renown Or gold or fame, and I'm just a dad, Content to be with his girl and lad.

Whatever the day has brought of care, Here love and laughter are mine to share, Here I can claim what the rich desire Rest and peace by a ruddy fire, The welcome words which the loved ones speak And the soft caress of a baby's cheek.

When day is done and I reach my gate, I come to a realm where there is no hate, For here, whatever my worth may be, Are those who cling to their faith in me; And with love on guard at my humble door, I have all that the world has struggled for.

The Simple Things

I would not be too wise so very wise That I must sneer at simple songs and creeds, And let the glare of wisdom blind my eyes To humble people and their humble needs.

I would not care to climb so high that I Could never hear the children at their play, Could only see the people passing by, And never hear the cheering words they say.