Classic Poem

I was so happy that I hardly knew it,
Nor ever guessed that life was not all play,
And little dreamt I'd live to see the dawning
Of such a day—
Oh why, why should it be
That suddenly
Life should seem strange and terrible to me?

I'd never cared for lads like other lasses
Nor heeded overmuch what they might say,
And little dreamt I'd live to see the dawning
Of such a day—
Oh why, why should it be
That suddenly
A lad's word should mean life and death to me?