Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-07-08
VI

The pure infection of the blood
That burned for loftier need than fame
Must these be lost2-or absent now
The song of lip, the light of brow,
Remembering they were doubly ours
And, though We honor both as one,
That strain of blood, in both begun,
Say, lies it buried from the sun,
Beneath memorial fowers2
Not so The summit of his deed
Is the true measure of the man,
Though once alone he caught the speed
That every baser aim outran
What once moment is, assures
The certainty of what endures,
And thus its sacred law DEGREES;
So ye, whom battle spared or SCARED,
Safe sheltered now from disregard,
Hearken to Englands blind old bard
"Peace hath her victories!
What once, in fiery test of war,
So proved itself must ever stand
To make the land worth living for,
Since others died to save the land -
Take from their lips the parting breath
Make life as glorious as is death
To them that triumph when they fall;
Still bid the phantom squadrons throng;
Their purpose and their will prolong
To guard the Right, repel the Wrong,
And giving, gain their all
Are they but soldiers who enlist
When peril shocks the nations hearts
Who leaves the maiden's lips unkissed,
Or kiss the wife and child, and part!
But soldiers then, when calls the drum
And calls the flashing bayonet: Come
And batteries challenge: 'lf you dare p
When all the standards wave unfurled,
And other clouds than heavens are hurled
To dim the beauty of the world,
And death floats free in air!
They most are soldiers, who shall keep
That climax of their manhood yet:
Who stand on guard when others sleep,
And bear in mind what all forget
Not in the clash of steel is found,
For them, the only battle ground:
Equipped and armed, through life they go,
Their hearts best blood resolved to spend,
Where honor shows some grander end
For whom each true man is a friend,
And each false man foe
If knaves beguile, by felon art,
The shifting favor of the hour;
If civic rule from right depart,
And brazen impudence has power,
If low Ambition buy his place
While Merit waits in half disgrace,
Still undecided sways the fight:
The bugle still to charge commands;
There is no truce of tongues or hands,
No quarter while one foeman stands
To mock eternal Right.
The idle blade is gnawed with rust,
Though meteor of hundred fields;
The lance, unhandled, falls to dust,
That proved its grain on shivered shields,
And Manhood, that has learned to dare,
Should as sword his courage wear,
His honor as flag defend;
Should stand, amid the needless host,
A lifelong sentry at his post,
His sole device and knightly boast
To break, but not to bend
Soldiers of peace In war began
Your service, and it must not cease
Until the soldier through the man
Has conquered and ennobled peace
Frank eyes of youth grow bright, to trace
A spell on each historic face
That sets your lives their own above;
And woman's homage, sweet and shy,
Not woman's pride shall dare deny,
Since he who readiest is to die
Is truest in his love
XIV.
One loyal habit summons all
From out the dust of old desires;
One spark of truth your deeds let fall
Shall fill the land with fresher fires
Though youths belief be manhood's doubt,
And generous hopes be trampled out
Rv cvnic ScOrn or selfish will,
Yet honor stays, devotion burns,
And pride that mean concession spurns;
No man his early faith unlearns,