THE LONELY GARDEN
EDGAR A. GUEST
Copyright, 1918, by Edgar A. Guest. Special permission to reproduce in this book.
I WONDER what the trees will say,
The trees that used to share his play,
An’ knew him as the little lad
Who used to wander with his dad.
They’ve watched him grow from year to year
Since first the good Lord sent him here;
This shag-bark hick’ry, many a time,
The little fellow tried t’ climb;
An’ never a spring has come but he
Has called upon his favorite tree.
I wonder what they all will say
When they are told he’s marched away.
I wonder what the birds will say,
The swallow an’ the chatterin’ jay,
The robin an’ the kildeer, too.
For every one o’ them he knew,
An’ every one o’ them knew him,
Waited each spring t’ tell him all
They’d done and seen since ’way last fall.
He was the first to greet ’em here
An’ hoppin’ there from limb t’ limb,
As they returned from year t’ year;
An’ now I wonder what they’ll say
When they are told he’s marched away.
I wonder how the roses there
Will get along without his care,
An’ how the lilac bush will face
The loneliness about th’ place,
For ev’ry spring an’ summer he
Has been the chum o’ plant an’ tree,
An’ every livin’ thing has known
A comradeship that’s finer grown
By havin’ him from year t’ year.
Now very soon they’ll all be here,
An’ I’m wonderin’ what they’ll say
When they find out he’s marched away.
THE BRITISH ARMY OF 1914
ALFRED W. POLLARD
in Westminster Gazette
LET us praise God for the Dead: the Dead who died in our cause.
They went forth a little army: all its men were as true as steel.
The hordes of the enemy were hurled against them: they fell back, but their hearts failed not.
They went forward again and held their ground: though their foes were as five to one.
They gave time for our host to muster: the most of the men who never thought to fight.
A great host and a mighty: worthy of the men who died to gain them time.
Let us praise God for these men: let us remember them before Him all our days.
Let us care for the widows and orphans: and for the men who came home maimed.
Truly God has been with us: these things were not done without His help.
O Lord our God, be Thou still our helper: make us worthy of those who died.