He has plenty to eat and plenty to wear,
And draws a pension that frees him from care,
His wife’s contented, his children as neat,
As any children you see on the street,
He’s a happy soldier coming along.
“Boys, don’t run away when your country’s in need,
But prove your courage by brave act and deed,
And if you should fall, for you is the fame,
On tablets of honor, you’ve written your name,”
Said the brave old soldier coming along.
WASHINGTON.
History tells of noble men,
Of soldiers brave and statesmen great,
And how they wrought with sword and pen,
To raise man to a higher state:
The good and wise in ev’ry age,
Left honored names to lean upon;
But not a name on hist’ry’s page
Shines brighter than George Washington.
Great Hannibal the Alps did cross,
And proudly march on Italy;
But suffered a tremendous loss,
By giving way to revelry;
Philip won at Charonea,
And Caesar crossed the Rubicon;
Alexander conquered Persia;
But nobler was our Washington.
Cromwell wielded a dreaded sword.
And thousands fell beneath his stroke;
Cruelty stained his ill gained hoard,
Nor could time mend the hearts he broke.
Peter the Great was truly great
But tortured to death his own son;
He builded up a mighty state,
But does not rank with Washington.
Cincinnatus was good and brave,
And fought for country, not for fame;
He left his plow his state to save,
And gave the world an honored name.
Mighty in war, in council strong,
Was the world famed Napoleon,
But oft ambition led him wrong;
This was not true of Washington.
Great warriors and statesmen wise,
Have filled the world with their renown,
And often when they gained a prize,
Have placed upon their heads a crown;
And frequently by deeds of shame,
Have lost the glory they had won,
No hero e’er had purer fame,
Than modest, honest Washington.
His brave soldiers he grandly led,
With frosted feet and hands all bare,
Over the cold earth’s frozen bed,
Across the icy Delaware;
And when they met the foes of right,
They shouted loud, “Come on! Come on!!”
And cheered as they went in the fight,
“Hurrah! Hurrah!! for Washington.”