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CASTING THE FIRST VOTE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: From mountain homes engirdled
Last Line: And truth's brave deeds are wrought.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Freedom; Marching & Marches; Patriotism; War; Youth; Liberty


FROM mountain homes engirdled
By shadowy gloom of pines,
From hamlets whence the fisher's boat
Sets sail o'er stormful seas to float;
From darkling depth of mines,
A host come forth to cast their vote,
A host in marshalled lines.

Clear-eyed, strong-limbed, and sturdy,
These honest sons of toil,—
They hold the ballot like a prayer,
Uplifted through the fateful air,
That none our land may spoil.
In their young manhood everywhere
They rise to guard the soil.

From cloistered halls of study,
From class-room and debate,
With chastened look and mien severe,
Another army draweth near,
In patriot hope elate,—
The vote they drop, a pledge sincere
To love and serve the State.

Up from the busy cities,
From many a thronging street,
Come reinforcements brave and strong;
And, like the rhythm of a song,
I hear their marching feet,—
To aid the weak, to right the wrong,
Nor meanly to retreat.

God bless the pure endeavor,
God guide the earnest thought;
God lead these youthful columns on,
Where only Freedom's fights are won,
And Freedom's glory sought,—
Where Truth's light-bringers forward run,
And Truth's brave deeds are wrought.





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