Shall ’t be of the innocent children,
Believing of such is heaven?
Their prattle and glee’s a joy unto me,
And care from the heart is driven.
Shall I sing of our lovèd country,
And these bright, fair homes of ours?
So happy and free from sea unto sea,
Guard well thy bulwarks and towers.
And the grand “Old Flag” floating o’er us,
Proudly ruling the boundless sea,
Ever unfurled, encircling the world,
Hath glory enough for me!
Shall I sing of man’s joys and sorrows?
Of woman’s undying love?
Of the ransomed that wait at the “pearly gate”
Of the “city of gold” above?
I would sing of all things beautiful,
The heroic and the true,
With a quenchless flame and a deathless fame
To brighten the whole world through.
A resurrection and a rising
To a grander, nobler life,
In brighter spheres, where the golden years
Exclude all of storm and strife.
SPEAK NOW.
Ah, me! the words unspoken
Might have saved a soul to-day—
And perhaps a heart was broken,
And made hopeless by the way.
If we poor blundering creatures
But in wisdom would speak now,
We should see more smiling features,
And less gloom on many a brow.
There would be far less of doubting,
And far less of weary pain;
If we ceased our cruel scouting;
We should wider friendship gain.
Many a way-worn wanderer
Would rejoice if he but knew
That absence maketh but fonder;
That our hearts are leal and true.
Why not speak the word of warning
When we know that danger’s nigh?
Why stand ye in idle scorning
Whilst the heedless ones pass by?
Why not help thy fallen brother
To regain his feet once more?
Do thy duty, let no other
For thy help in vain implore.
Why not spurn the demon slander
That hath slain so many hearts?
Should we listen e’en, or pander
Whilst he hurls his venomed darts?
Why not speak the words of kindness
To those whom we truly love?
Why should we in our dull blindness
Wait the summoning from above?