Our Profession and Other Poems | Page 7

and Drum Corps (36 uniformed members) of the Third Ward Grammar School of Long Island City, of which the writer is Principal.]
There are fields of martial glory
Where the slain are ne'er bemoaned;?There are victories though silent,?Where grim monarchs are dethroned;?There are scenes of strife and foray?Where gigantic forces strive?For the mastery and triumph
Of the ends for which they live.
There are forces more puissant
Than ten million armed men,?There are banners that are emblems
Of the mighty tongue and pen,?That reflect upon their blazon
Honest purpose grand and true,?Such as never graced the victors
Of Sedan and Waterloo.
There are weapons in these contests
Keener than the Damask blade,?There are metals of such temper
As no crucible e'er made;?For the dross must be extracted
In the furnace of the soul?Till no refuse or pollution
Shall defile the perfect whole.
Though this army counts its millions,
Each must face alone the foe,?Each must bring a special weapon,
Each must strike himself the blow?That shall free him from the shackles
Of that despot and his train,?Who with ignorance and vices
Would destroy the heart and brain.
Our true sword is Education
And grim Ignorance our foe;?We are battling with our passions,
And our spirits are aglow?With a full determination
To accept the proven truth?That the days of precious seed-time,
Are the sunny days of youth.
Day by day the contest rages
And each task that's daily done,?Brings a soothing satisfaction
That another victory's won.?Thus the strength we gain in action
Aids in each succeeding strife,?To make the struggles lighter
In the battles of our life.
There are avenues and byways
Which lead into the heart,?Whose intricate environments
Require the highest art?To tell what inspiration
Shall touch a dormant mind,?And fire it with a living zeal
For a station more refined.
It is only voice of music
That speaks universal tongue;?It matters not in what accent
A sweet melody is sung,?It will find responsive feelings
Which will aptly understand?Though it be of unknown measure
And sung in a foreign land.
We come with our martial music,
With our noisy fife and drum?To inspire the weak and weary,
To open the mouths of the dumb,?To train our every emotion
For a better sphere in life,?To enjoy for the passing moment
The sound of the drum and fife.
We hope our notes may be peaceful
And free from carnage of war;?We would bind up the broken hearted
And cover the wound and scar,?But should foe our country menace
And refuse to be just and calm,?We would sound aloud the tocsin
And march to defend Uncle Sam.

To plant an intellectual seed?And guard its growth from noxious weed,?That it may fruitage bear,?Is solace more, a thousand fold,?Than hoarding bonds and stocks and gold,?Or sporting jewels rare.
GOOD HABITS.
A silent force marks out the course?Of every man and woman,?No matter what may be the lot?Of creatures that are human,
The end attained is ever gained?By means so strange and hidden,?We call it luck, instead of pluck,?Or fate by fairies bidden.
The human eye cannot descry?All workings of the brain;?At silent night, it gains a might?Which bears a mental train
Whose lucid glow may thrones o'erthrow,?Or bid new nations rise,?May prove some plan whereby proud man?May ransack earth and skies.
Think not such power a fairy's dower,?Or influence from some star,?It did not spring from anything?Beyond what mortals are.
To man is given the keys of heaven?If they be rightly used;?No being born but must be shorn?If blessings are abused.
Keep well the trust! Guard it we must,?From in and outward foes,?Strength will be gained, might be attained?By efforts to oppose
The secret vice that doth entice?To ruin and despair;?But he who will hath power to kill?Such vice within its lair.
Let habits grand the life command?And Eden is regained;?No future bliss need surpass this?If habits are unstained.
Let smiling face your presence grace?And earth will smile on you,?Let from the tongue a song be sung,?Its echo will be true,
And sing again the same refrain?Upon the selfsame key,?Till airs elate, reverberate,?Heaven's sweetest minstrelsy.
If we extend a hand to friend?Who needs a brother's care,?Though it may hold no purse of gold?The act he will revere.
Scarce do we know whence comes the glow?That duty done e'er gives,?Its altar-fire cannot expire--?Here and hereafter lives.
Such habits then, for gods and men,?Are but the means whereby?They may prepare to gain their share?To mansions in the sky.
Sing then a song, its notes prolong,?In praise of Habit's power;?Let custom be from evil free?And it will blessings shower.
EVIL HABITS.
How habit grows no one e'er knows,?And yet he is a giant?That has a will and subtle skill?That never yet was pliant.
'Tis very plain that he has slain?More than the sword and spear,?With wily art he charms the heart?And quells the greatest fear.
His artful eye is wondrous sly?And has bewitching glance,?Where'er he moves his victim loves?To see his powers advance.
He makes no noise 'mong girls and boys?Whom he would call his own,?His spell is cast, he holds them fast?Till they are overthrown.
When this is done the field is won,?And they are all his own,?He heeds no cry, no choking sigh,?No plea, no prayer, no