Farewell To The Children.

In the early summer morning
    I stand and watch them come,
The children to the school-house;
    They chatter and laugh and hum.

The little boys with satchels
    Slung round them, and the girls
Each with hers swinging in her hand;
    I love their sunny curls.

I love to see them playing,
    Romping and shouting with glee,
The boys and girls together,
    Simple, fearless, free.

I love to see them marching
    In squads, in file, in line,
Advancing and retreating,
    Tramping, keeping time.

Sometimes a little lad
    With a bright brave face I'll see,
And a wistful yearning wonder
    Comes stealing over me.

For once I too had a darling;
    I dreamed what he should do,
And surely he'd have had, I thought,
    Just such a face as you.

And I, I dreamed to see him
    Noble and brave and strong,
Loving the light, the lovely,
    Hating the dark, the wrong, -

Loving the poor, the People,
    Ready to smile and give
Blood and brain to their service,
    For them to die or live!

No matter, O little darlings!
    Little boys, you shall be
My citizens for faithful labour,
    My soldiers for victory!

Little girls, I charge you
    Be noble sweethearts, wives,
Mothers - comrades the sweetest,
    Fountains of happy lives!

Farewell, O little darlings!
    Far away, - with strangers, too -
He sleeps, the little darling,
    I dreamed to see like you.

And I, O little darlings,
    I have many miles to go,
And where I too may stop and sleep,
    And when, I do not know.

But I charge you to remember
    The love, the trust I had,
That you'd be noble, fearless, free,
    And make your country glad!

That you should toil together,
    Face whatever yet shall be,
My citizens for faithful labour,
    My soldiers for victory!

I charge you to remember;
    I bless you with my hand,
And I know the hour is coming
    When you shall understand:

When you shall understand too,
    Why, as I said farewell,
Although my lips were smiling,
    The shining tears down fell.