When the laughter’s gaily ringin’ an’ the room is filled with song,
I like, to sit an’ watch ’em, all that glad an’ merry throng,
For the ragtime they are playin’ on the old piano there
Beats any high-toned music where the bright lights shine an’ glare,
An’ the racket they are makin’ stirs my pulses more and more,
So I whisper in my gladness:  that’s what home’s intended for.

Then I smile an’ say to Mother, let ’em move the chairs about,
Let ’em frolic in the parlor, let ’em shove the tables out,
Jus’ so long as they are near us, jus’ so long as they will stay
By the fireplace we are keepin’, harm will never come their way,
An’ you’ll never hear me grumble at the bills that keep me poor,
It’s the finest part o’ livin’—­that’s what home’s intended for.

Safe at Home

Let the old fire blaze
  An’ the youngsters shout
An’ the dog on the rug
  Sprawl full length out,
An’ Mother an’ I
  Sort o’ settle down—­
An’ it’s little we care
  For the noisy town.

Oh, it’s little we care
  That the wind may blow,
An’ the streets grow white
  With the drifted snow;
We’ll face the storm
  With the break o’ day,
But to-night we’ll dream
  An’ we’ll sing an’ play.

We’ll sit by the fire
  Where it’s snug an’ warm,
An’ pay no heed
  To the winter storm;
With a sheltering roof
  Let the blizzard roar;
We are safe at home—­
  Can a king say more?

That’s all that counts
  When the day is done: 
The smiles of love
  And the youngsters’ fun,
The cares put down
  With the evening gloam—­
Here’s the joy of all: 
  To be safe at home.

When Friends Drop In

It may be I’m old-fashioned, but the times I like the best
Are not the splendid parties with the women gaily dressed,
And the music tuned for dancing and the laughter of the throng,
With a paid comedian’s antics or a hired musician’s song,
But the quiet times of friendship, with the chuckles and the grin,
And the circle at the fireside when a few good friends drop in.

There’s something ’round the fireplace that no club can imitate,
And no throng can ever equal just a few folks near the grate;
Though I sometimes like an opera, there’s no music quite so sweet
As the singing of the neighbors that you’re always glad to meet;
Oh, I know when they come calling that the fun will soon begin,
And I’m happiest those evenings when a few good friends drop in.

There’s no pomp of preparation, there’s no style or sham or fuss;
We are glad to welcome callers who are glad to be with us,
And we sit around and visit or we start a merry game,
And we show them by our manner that we’re mighty pleased they came,
For there’s something real about it, and the yarns we love to spin,
And the time flies, Oh, so swiftly when a few good friends drop in.