Page:Fifes and Drums, Poems of America at War, Vigilantes, 1917.djvu/142



give the savings of their life—the dreams,

The hopes of youth, the care of yearning years,

The tender fostering, the love austere

That served by chastening, the prayers unheard

Except by God—all, all the priceless hoard

Of love that goes to make a son, a man,

They give all this—with sorrow, yet with joy.

It may be they shall have their gift again

In time to come; it may be they shall have

For their one comfort that they gave their all

To help God's Kingdom come. . ..

And we—(O God,

Thou knowest why!) who have no sons to give,

We lend our gold that shall be paid again