A peaceful life; -- just toil and rest -- All his desire; -- To read the books he liked the best Beside the cabin fire -- God's word and man's; -- to peer sometimes Above the page, in smoldering gleams, And catch, like far heroic rhymes, The on-march of his dreams. A peaceful life; -- to hear the low Of pastured herds, Or woodman's ax that, blow on blow, Fell sweet as rhythmic words. And yet there stirred within his breast A fateful pulse that, like a roll Of drums, made high above his rest A tumult in his soul. A peaceful life! -- They haled him even As One was haled Whose open palms were nailed toward Heaven When prayers nor aught availed. And, lo, he paid the selfsame price To lull a nation's awful strife And will us, through the sacrifice Of self, his peaceful life. |