The hours I spent with thee, dear heart Are as a string of pearls to me I count them over, ev'ry one apart My rosary, my rosary Each hour a pearl, each pearl a prayer To still a heart in absence wrung I tell each bead unto the end And there a cross is hung O, memories that bless and burn O, barren gain and bitter loss I kiss each bead and strive at last to learn To kiss the cross, sweet heart, to kiss the cross