Classic Poem

Brave comrade, answer! When you joined the war,
What left you? " Wife and children, wealth and friends,
A storied home whose ancient roof-tree bends
Above such thoughts as love tells o'er and o'er. "
Had you no pang or struggle? " Yes; I bore
Such pain on parting as at hell's gate rends
The entering soul, when from its grasp ascends
The last faint virtue which on earth it wore. "
You loved your home, your kindred, children, wife;
You loathed yet plunged into war's bloody whirl! —
What urged you? " Duty! Something more than life.
That which made Abraham bare the priestly knife,
And Isaac kneel, or that young Hebrew girl
Who sought her father coming from the strife. "