'FIT us for humblest service,' prayed This kindly, reverent man, Content to hold a lowly place In God's eternal plan; Content by prairie, wood, and stream, The common lot to share, Or help a neighbor in his need Some grievous weight to bear — Then trustfully resigned the life That had fulfilled his prayer. And she in Indiana's woods This many a year who lies, Mother and wife whose yearning soul Looked sadly from her eyes; Who, dying, called her children close As the last shadow fell, And bade them ever worship God And love each other well — Then to her forest grave was borne, The wind her funeral knell; So drear, so lone, who could have dreamed The boy her bed beside, Forth from that narrow door would walk Among earth's glorified? But lo! his name from sea to sea Gives patriotism wings; Upon his brow a crown is set Grander than any king's; And to these fameless graves his fame Tender remembrance brings. Ah! still the humble God doth choose The mighty to confound; Still them that fear and follow Him His angel campeth round; And while by Indiana's woods Ohio murmuring flows, And Illinois' green levels shine In sunset's parting glows, — While Liberty is dear, our hearts Will hallow their repose. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT GERANIUMS by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON THE INVITATION by GEORGE HERBERT LAY OF THE TRILOBITE by MAY EMMA GOLDWORTH KENDALL THE POET'S SPEAR by ARCHILOCHUS |