I see you toiling down the tedious years,
You bearded. gaunt. and bent old pioneers,
Sowing, and reaping. sowing once again.
In paticnce for an unborn race of men.
I see you struggling in the wilderness
Where failure meant starvatgon and succcs~ --
A cabin in the wildcrncss, rough hewn, rude.
Garments of homespun and the humblest fsiotl.
Tradition sarcely let’s me whence you came.
I only know a few of you by name.
I only know you lived and multiplied
Quite profligate in progeny—and died.
Yet in my heart I know that most of you.
Were strong and steadfast and that one or two
At least had weaknesses that still may he
Traced in the trends of atavistic me.
One I am sure was blest seith native wit—
i’m thankful he transmitted some of it’—
That helped him dodge Dame Troubles swiftest dart .
And meet misfortune with a merry heart.
One was rather a worthless wight I fear.
Who when the bluebird whispered spring was near
Forsook his plow—a shiftless sluggard one
And warned the woods alone with rod and gun.
And one a gentle dreamer was, I trow,
Who lured by shadow, let the Substance go.
‘Twas he who dared the raging Western sea—
i’m glad he handed down his dreams to me!
