Part 5 (2/2)

Says he, ”since I am swabbing decks.”

”A sailor's life, dear Mom,” writes he, ”Is not the life you picked for me.

And yet I'm getting fat and strong And learning as I go along That any life a man can find Is apt to grow to be a grind Unless a fellow has the wit To see the brighter side of it.

Don't worry for your sailor son; He sleeps well when his work is done.”

We've had a letter from the boy, And oh, the gladness and the joy It brought to us! 'Twas good to know That he is facing duty so.

Between the lines that he had penned His mother's bitter fears to end, I saw his manhood glowing bright, And now I know his heart is right.

Behind the laughter I could see My boy's the man I'd hoped he'd be.

Exempt

They have said you needn't go to the front to face the foe; They have left you with jour women and your children safe at home; They have spared you from the crash of the murderous guns that flash And the horrors and the madness and the death across the foam.

But it's your fight, just the same, and your country still must claim The splendor of your manhood and the best that you can do; In a thousand different ways through the dark and troubled days, You must stand behind the nation that has been so good to you.

You're exempt from shot and sh.e.l.l, from the havoc and the h.e.l.l That have robbed the world of gladness; you have missed the sterner fate Of the brave young men and fine, that are falling into line, You may stay among your children who are swinging on the gate.

But you're not exempt from love of the Flag that flies above, You've a greater obligation to your country to be true; You must work from day to day in a bigger, better way For the glory of the nation that has been so good to you.

You are not exempt from trial, from long days of self-denial, From devotion to your homeland and from courage in the test.

You are not exempt from giving to your country's needs and living As a citizen and soldier--an example of the best.

You've a harder task before you than the boys who're fighting for you, You must match their splendid courage and devotion through and through; You must prove by fine endeavor, and by standing constant ever That you're worthy of the country that has been so good to you.

Duty

We know not where the path may lead nor what the end may be, The clouds are dark above us now, the future none can see, And yet when all the storms have pa.s.sed, and cannons cease to roar, We shall be prouder of our flag than we have been before.

We could not longer idle stay, spectators of a wrong, The weak were crying out for help against oppression strong; And though we pray we may be spared the bitterness of strife, 'Twere better that we die than live the coward's feeble life.

We could not longer silent sit, our glory at an end, And blind ourselves unto the wrongs committed by a friend; We must be tolerant with all, yet in these days of hate, Some things have happened that it would be shame to tolerate.

And now we stand before the world, erect and calm and grave, And speak the words that decency must rule the land and wave; Into the chaos of despair we fling ourselves to-day As guardians of a precious trust hate must not sweep away.

We must rejoice, if we are men, not weak and soft of heart That we have heeded duty's call, and taken up our part.

And when at last sweet peace shall come, and all the strife is o'er, We shall be prouder of our flag than we have been before,

A Prayer

G.o.d grant to us the strength of men, The patience of the brave; The wisdom to be silent, when The days with doubt are grave.

When dangers come, as come they must, Throughout the trying hours Let us continue still to trust That triumph shall be ours.

We have foresworn our days of ease To battle for the right, To venture over troubled seas Oppression's wrongs to fight.

And we have pledged ourselves to grief, And bitter hurt and pain, Then must we cling to this belief: We suffer not in vain.

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