Part 8 (2/2)

His mother's tenderness is there, his father's kindly way, And all that went last year to make his merry Christmas Day; He'll see once more his sister's smile, he'll hear the baby shout, And as he opens every gift we'll gather round about.

He cannot come to share with us the joys of Christmas Day; The Flag has called to him, and he is serving far away.

Undaunted, unafraid and fine he stands to duty grim, And so this Christmas we have tried to s.h.i.+p ourselves to him.

A Plea

G.o.d grant me these: the strength to do Some needed service here; The wisdom to be brave and true; The gift of vision clear, That in each task that comes to me Some purpose I may plainly see.

G.o.d teach me to believe that I Am stationed at a post, Although the humblest 'neath the sky, Where I am needed most, And that, at last, if I do well, My humble services will tell.

G.o.d grant me faith to stand on guard, Uncheered, unspoke, alone, And see behind such duty hard My service to the throne.

Whate'er my task, be this my creed: I am on earth to fill a need.

Your Country Needs You

The country needs a man like you, It has a task for you to do.

It has a job for you to face.

Somewhere for you it has a place.

Not all the slackers dodge the work Of service where the cannon lurk, Not all the slackers on life's stage Are boys of military age.

The old, the youthful and unfit Must also do their little bit.

The country needs a man like you, 'Twill suffer if you prove untrue.

What though you cannot bear a gun?

That isn't all that's to be done.

There are a thousand other ways To serve your country through the days Of trial and the nights of storm.

You need not wear a uniform Or with the men in council sit To serve the Flag and do your bit.

Somewhere for you there is a place, Somewhere you have a task to face.

There's none so helpless or so frail That cannot, when our foes a.s.sail, In some way help our common cause And be deserving of applause.

Behind the Flag we all must be, Each at his post, awake to see That in so far as he has striven, His best was to his country given.

You can be patient, brave and strong, And not complain when plans go wrong; You can be cheerful at your toil, Or till, perhaps, some patch of soil; You can encourage others who Have heavier, greater tasks to do; You can be loyal, not in creed Alone, but in each thought and deed; You can make sacrifices, too.

The country needs a man like you,

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