Undismayed

Courage! ye fainting hearts!Though darkness rules to-day,Maybe the morrow's sun may chaseThe mist and gloom away.Though now War's clarion tongueRings through the startled air,The voice of Peace shall yet proclaimIts victory everywhere!

Grim into every houseSome fearful trouble comes!Oh, God! the lonesome hearts to-night,The desolated homes!For us who stay behind,To watch, and pray, and wait,The lot is harder than for thoseWho go to seek their fate.

But shall we fail, and sink,Beneath the weight of woe?We who have bid our dearest onesGird on the sword and go!No! though we suffer loss,And weep our secret tears,We look beyond the present time,—Look to the coming years.

No grand great good can springThrough painless ease to birth!The hand of chastening falls with weightUpon the cringing earth!But midst it all, we know,Through darkness and through light,That God is strong enough to bringThe victory to the Right!

October, 1862.