Oh, but it's grand
to sit at one's door,
With one's own
wife at one's side.
A-showing her
what she ought to know
How a shipshape
knot is tied;
See the ropes be
equally matched,
lass,A wisp and a
cable won't splice;
For tie'em as
neat as you may,
The weaker will
give in a trice.

That's just what
the Good Book means,
~~Kate,~~
When it says that
two will not speed
Who set out to
travel together,
Yet are in
nothing agreed.
But take two ropes
like these now.
This is softer,
you see, but it's tough,
And that is as
good in it's way,
Tho" it feels a
little more rough.

Now twist 'em and
twirl 'em and there !
What couldn't you
follow--my hand?
Strange ! how
it's easy to do
What's not easy
to understand !
'T was easy,
our falling in love-
But ask how we
did it and why?
You may answer,
for women are clever!
But I can't tell you, not I!

Then to make sure
the ropes are spliced,
Just tug 'em at one end;
If the knot is right,
and the ropes be sound,
There will be nor
slip nor rend;
There will be,
as it were, one rope-
Only stronger
because it's two,
And that's the
way it's to always be,
My Katie,
with me and you!

The tugs will come,
lass ,as sure as life,
When young days
will pass away,
When duties will
thicken around us,
While our heads
grow bowed and gray;
For tho' knots be
tied in the sunshine,
~~Kate,~~
Their're meant
to hold in a gale;
And from all that
we see around us,
Life isn't a summer sail.

And the time
must come at last,
~~Kate,~~
When all knots will
dip out of sight,
One of the strings
drawn safely
In God's haven
of love and light.
But one of 'em
still left dragging
In life's ocean,
rough and cold;
Yet the watch
may sing out
"All's well !"
~~Kate,~~
For our Father's
knots will hold.