The Little Soldier
"SEE, mother, see my little sword,
And here's my wooden gun;
When I am grown a taller boy,
I'll have a bigger one.
And oh, I'll be a solder brave,
With buttons new and bright,
And, mother, to the wars I'll go,
And there I'll learn to fight.”
A tear-drop kissed the ruddy hands
Of the delighted boy;
His mother thought upon the words,
And wept but not for joy.
Deeply her pious heart deplored
Such seeds of sorrow sown,
In the new furrows where so oft
Had seeds of grace been thrown.
She laid the fatal playthings by
The tiny sword and gun
"Far other than such arms as these.
Be thine, my only son.
There is another warfare boy,
And other foes to slay,
Than where, to spill their fellows' blood,
Men throw their own away.
"It is a warfare fierce and long;
The foes are all within;
And there they battle and are strong
This conflict is with sin.
But to the soldiers all are given
Bright arms and conquering skill;
Such is the warfare he approves,
Who saith, " Thou shalt not kill."
YI