andquot;where are you going, young fellow my lad,
on this glittering morn of may?andquot;
andquot;iand'm going to join the colors, dad,
theyand're looking for men, they say.andquot;
andquot;but youand're only a boy, young fellow my lad,
you arenand't obliged to go.andquot;
andquot;well, iand'm seventeen and a quarter, dad,
and ever so strong, you know.andquot;
andquot;so youand're off to france, young fellow my lad
and youand're looking so fit and bright.andquot;
andquot;iand'm terribly sorry to leave you, dad,
but i feel that iand'm doing right.andquot;
andquot;god bless you and keep you, young fellow my lad,
youand're all of my life, you know.andquot;
andquot;donand't worry. iand'll soon be back, dear dad,
and iand'm awfully proud to go.andquot;
andquot;why donand't you write, young fellow my lad?
i watch for the post each day;
and i miss you so and iand'm awfully sad,
and itand's months since you went away.
and iand've had the fire in the parlor lit,
and iand'm keeping it burning bright
till my boy comes home, and here i sit
into the quiet night.andquot;
andquot;what is the matter, young fellow my lad?
no letter again to-day.
why did the postman look so sad,
and sigh as he turned away?
well, i hear them tell that weand've gained new ground,
but a terrible price weand've paid:
god grant, my boy, that youand're safe and sound;
but oh iand'm afraid, afraid.andquot;
andquot;theyand've told me the truth, young fellow my lad,
youand'll never come back again:
(oh god! the dreams and the dreams iand've had,
and the hopes iand've nursed in vain.)
for you passed in the night, young fellow my lad,
and you proved in the cruel test
of the screaming shell and the battle hell
that my boy was one of the best.andquot;
andquot;so youand'll live, youand'll live, young fellow my lad,
in the gleam of the evening star,
in the wood-note wild and the laugh of the child,
in all sweet things that are.
and youand'll never die, my wonderful boy
while life is noble and true:
for all our beauty and hope and joy
we will owe to our lads like you.andquot;
