Keep Me Sweet

~

Lord, keep me sweet when I grow old

And things in life seem hard to bear,

When I feel sad and all alone

And people do not seem to care.

~

Oh, keep me sweet when time has caused

This body, which is not so strong,

To droop beneath its load of years

And suffering and pain have come.

~

And keep me sweet when I have grown

To worry so at din and noise,

And help me smile the while I watch

The noisy play of girls and boys.

~

Help me remember how that I,

When I was younger than today

And full of life and health and joy,

Would romp and shout in happy play.

~

Help me to train my heart each day,

That it will only sweetness hold;

And as the days and years roll on,

May I keep sweet as I grow old.

~

Oh, keep me sweet and let me look

Beyond the frets that life must hold,

To see the glad eternal joys;

Yes, keep me sweet in growing old.

~

Mrs. Charles F. Cowman