C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Youth and Age

WHEN all the world is young, lad, and everything is green,

And every goose a swan, lad, and every lass a queen,

Then boot, lad, and horse, lad, and round the world away,

And go it while you’re young, lad;—each dog must have his day.

When all the world gets old, lad, and all the trees turn brown,

And all the jests get stale, lad, and all the wheels run down,

Then hie back to thy hame, lad,—the maimed and sick among:

Thank God! if then you find one face you loved when you were young.