For when we cease to fear and dread The phantoms of a darker age, We read them like a comic page, And smile to think that they are dead.
The darkness from man’s faith cast out, And truth and love alone its good, Then he shall know that brotherhood, God’s greatest prophets speak about.
Then man the Father’s heart shall know, The “larger Hope” and nobler meed, Then shall his life be one grand creed, The measure of what he doth trow.
Was this his faith? He never told, Except in modest daily deeds, He said no prayers, nor counted beads, Yet was he one of God’s true fold.
There moves along the street and lane A motley crowd of old and young; The nation’s anthem has been sung, A homily preached at the fane.
It moves along to sound of fife And muffled drum, the step to aid; The flag is to the breezes laid, A flag which bears the marks of strife.
These men who carried it on high, Amid the battle’s great array, But feebly follow it to-day To where their fallen comrads lie.
“He must increase, but I decrease,” Thus spake the prophet long ago, “Old Glory” has been strengthened so, “The boys in blue” may rest in peace.
And one by one is mustered out, From ranks which ever thinner grow, Soon but a remnant we shall know, A remnant in the North and South.
So let us plant our flag and flow’r Upon their grave, in Memory,-- Of what they were--what we should be, In this the larger, newborn hour.
But most of all, let us be kind To these who linger yet a while, Come, walk with them the last long mile, And carry those who fall behind!
He was a member of this post, Lieutenant of artillery, Great Lincoln’s gift for bravery, Of which you never heard him boast.
At Cedar Mountain and at Reams, Antietam and the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, with its vain distress, And Petersburg’s dark bloody streams,
He knew the brunt of bitter fight, The hardship and the painful wound, He knew the cost of conquered ground, The price of freedom and of right.
He knew, indeed, that “war is hell,” And did not proudly speak of it, Although his eyes were strangely lit, When campfire stories he did tell.
But peace was regnant in his soul, He dreamed about that distant day, When man shall know the better way, Of peace on earth, good will to all.