Part 14 (2/2)

He says that she shall never miss The pleasure of that evening kiss, And with strong arms and manner brave He simulates the hug _he_ gave, And loves her, when the day is done, Both as a husband and a son.

His laugh has caught a clearer ring; His step has claimed the old-time swing, And though _his_ absence hurts him, too, The bravest thing that he can do Is just to try to take _his_ place And keep the smiles on mother's face.

So, merrily he jests at night-- Tells her with all a boy's delight Of what has happened in the town, And thus keeps melancholy down.

Her letters breathe of hope and cheer; No note of gloom she sends from here, And as her husband reads at night The many messages she writes, He chuckles o'er the closing line.

She's failed his secret to divine-- ”When you get home,” she tells the lad, ”You'll scarcely know your doting dad; Although his hair is turning gray, He seems more like a boy each day.”

Christmas, 1918

They give their all, this Christmastide, that peace on earth shall reign; Upon the snows of Flanders now, brave blood has left its stain; With ribbons red we deck our gifts; theirs bear the red of pain.

They give their lives that joy shall live and little children play; They pa.s.s that all that makes for peace shall not be swept away; They die that children yet unborn shall have their Christmas Day.

Come! deck the home with holly wreaths and make this Christmas glow, And let Old Glory wave above the bough of mistletoe!

Come! keep alive the faith of them who sleep 'neath Flanders snow.

Ye brave of heart who dwell at home, make merry now a-while; The world has need of Christmas cheer its sorrows to beguile; And blest is he whose love can light grief's corners with a smile.

Ring out once more, sweet Christmas bells, your message to the sky, Proclaim in golden tones again to every pa.s.ser-by That peace shall rule the lands of earth, and only war shall die.

Let love's sweet tenderness relieve war's cruel crimson clutch, Send forth the Christmas spirit, every troubled heart to touch; Blest will be all we do for them who do for us so much.

The New Year

Come you with dangers to fright us? or hazards to try out our souls?

Then may you find us undaunted; determined to get to our goals.

Now, white are the pages you bring us to fill with the tales of our deeds, And I pray we shall square at the finish the work of our lives with our creeds.

Oh, child of a year, do you wonder what here upon earth you shall find?

America shows you a people united in purpose and mind; Whatever you bring us of danger, whatever you hold to affright, I pray that we never shall lower our standards of truth and of right.

You find us a people united, full pledged to the work of the world, To banish the despot and tyrant, our banner in battle's unfurled; And here to a world that is bleeding and weary and heartsick you come, Whatever you've brought us of duty--we'll answer the call of your drum.

We may weep in our grief and our sorrows, we may bend 'neath the might of the blow, But never our courage shall falter, and never we'll run from the foe.

We know not how troubled our pathways shall be nor how sorely beset, But I pray we shall cling to our honor as men and never our purpose forget.

Our Duty to Our Flag

Less hate and greed Is what we need And more of service true; More men to love The flag above And keep it first in view.

<script>