The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-05-01
LETTER FROM ..
PASTOR LYON

The editor has received a very nice
letter and poem from Rev. w. c. Lyon
which we think will interest our read
ers so we give them below:
Sunday Afternoon, April z, 1919.
My dear friend Trubshaw:
One of our Y. secretaries published
here in Coblenz the other day little
collection of his poems. ]. am send
ing you what I consider the best one,
thinking you might like to run it in
your paper. Oliver Allstrom, the
writer, has his poems appearing regu-
larly in syndicate of 81 American
newspapers. For the past four years
he has written poems at the rate Of
one a day. Ycu an editor will smile
at this I know, but from my point of
view-that of one who cannot write
single poem in life time-it is
truly marvellous. l am reminded of
Charles Wesley who wrote neary 5000
hymns during his life-many of
| which were not worth printing. So
with my friend here. Much of what
he writes may have little merit and
yet l am sure you will see something
| in se/stanzas.
Life here in Coblenz is full of inter-
| est each day. There is no such thing
| as monotony. The boys are truly
anxious to get home. The Rainbow
| Division left yesterday and will
doubtless be we'll on the way by the
time this letter reaches you. The
only Valley City folks / have seen
are Lieut. James Brady who is sta
toned in the postal regulating station
here and Corporal Caspar Worley who
came in on a three day leave last
week. Miss Stella Buchanan of
Buchanan is stationed here in the big
Red Cross canteen at the station and
helps Sundays with the religious SER
vices the Y. NJ. C. A. is putting on at
different points Of the area. By the
way Worley sent me two copies of the
Times-R Record which I thoroughly en-
joyed News of the home folks and
pictures of the home folks are all
nightly enjoyed by the men owe,
here.
| I find plenty Of work to do-work
that ought to be done-and so am
armistice had been signed. Remem
bef me kindly to Mrs. Trubshaw
| Cordially yours,
W. ". LIO1SO.
| Our Debt to- Lafayette is Paid
read it in the graves that line
The pathways reaching to the Rhine.
Hill after hill, like milestones set
For pilgrims who can not forget.
From Clermont and the forest dim
Of Argonne shadows deep and grim
Along the Marne, and up the Aisne
heard hundred Thousand men,
: This chant l hear DER. moor and glade
! "Our debt to Lafayette is paid"
I see it in the ruined mess
Of Chateau Thierry's lonliness.
At bleak Sedan, in baneful plight;
At St. Mihiel, bled stark and white;
I hear it at Soissons-Good God!
Those voices coming from the sod!
At Buoy, Missy, and Vailly (Vi-ee)
Ten thousand men sing out to me
One chant l hear, brave, unafraid,
"Our debt to Lafayette is paid"
I hear it in the winds that moan
Above the graves, unmarked, un
known.
A mothers grief, a sweetheart's sigh
| OcaOy 11oP, GAL 1A1Ae"AAV . Wy
| All this I hear, - their voices rise
Like muffled sobbing to the skies:
Bereft of those beloved, they scan
The red embellishments of man.
This dirge they sing, 20 precious
,, shade,
Our debt to Lafayette is paid"
l hear it. thund'ring down the years,
hear it in a million cheers;
From Paul Revere and Nathan Hale,
Up through the lone fore-runner's
trail,
Down to the khaki boys that ride
The mine-flled seas and stormy tide!
A world made safe! Hear it Alright!
For this we fought, for this we fight
| And 10, the song, "Be not dismayed,
"The price of Freedom must be paid