A Soldier’s Vision

HOME POEMS 317

"He did a great, unselfish work For those who never saw this light. He buckled all Christ's armor on, And by his labors kept it bright. And more; in all the trivial acts By which we keep our mortal breath, He dealt as should a man whose life Is pledged to Him —for life or death.

"He wished in flesh to meet his God, But died, as he had lived, resigned; Christ did not come, but he has gone, His body to the earth consigned. It matters little when our work Is done, and eyes grow weak and dim, Whether the dear Lord comes to us, Or we, through death, may go to Him." And this was all; a few short words Of prayer, the dead man's grave was filled And rounded up with decent care; Dried were the tears that friendship spill'd. Old Jacob Pete'rsen was dead, And buried, too, but few there be Can such heroic record claim, Unspotted, as was given thee.

He reached no heights of brilliant fame In war, in learning, wealth or power; But with the talent God had given He wrought his task out hour by hour, And paved to heaven a path of gold, By doing duties that God gave. Who'd think a hero slept beneath To see "Old Jacob's" humble grave? -E. J.

A Soldier's Vision There's a little girl I'm loving in the land across the sea, Through the softness of the twilight she comes creeping close to me. I can almost feel her handclasp, I can see her tender eyes, As they glow across the darkness with a light that never dies. — Oh, a hard day lies behind me there's a bitter dawn ahead; There's a man next door who's moaning, and my bunkie mate lies dead; But she's coming through the shadows, and her glance is misty bright, And I know her love is near me through the horror of the night. Yes—6he gave me to our country, though she might have made me stay. How she kissed me, smiling bravely, as she brushed the tears away! And her voice rings past the moaning, past the battle raging near, And she says, "Be true and fearless, just because I love you, dear." There's a little girl, she's waiting in the land across the foam, And I know that she is praying that with honor I'll come home: And I make myself a promise that I'll justify her plan— The ideal that she sets me of a soldier and a man! Prvt. Fred Peterson, in the Stars and Stripes, France.