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.