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MRS. C. E. STEPHENS—
(Retired school teacher after three score years of service.)
It's a pleasure to pay this tribute
To the grand and noble woman,
Mrs. Charlotte E. Stephens, who
Adopted as her omen
The building of human character,
And she fought for it like a Trojan.
To the grand and noble woman,
Mrs. Charlotte E. Stephens, who
Adopted as her omen
The building of human character,
And she fought for it like a Trojan.
Now let's run up the balance sheet
And see just how she stands;
What has she done in the sixty years
To meet the world's demands?
What has she done in the building of men
In accordance with God's command?
And see just how she stands;
What has she done in the sixty years
To meet the world's demands?
What has she done in the building of men
In accordance with God's command?
What has been her real value
In this world of intellect?
What has she contributed to the world
That's above her cash assets?
In the final total footing up
Has she paid her honest debts?
In this world of intellect?
What has she contributed to the world
That's above her cash assets?
In the final total footing up
Has she paid her honest debts?
She's brought woman her honor dear
By healing long disgraces;
She's proven to the wrangling world
By filling many places,
That the time has come when woman must
March out and lead the races.
By healing long disgraces;
She's proven to the wrangling world
By filling many places,
That the time has come when woman must
March out and lead the races.
88
She started in her noble work
While John Brown's blood was warm,
While Lincoln's assassination
Was the topic of the throng,
And the Ku Klux Klan was trying to prove
That liberty was wrong.
While John Brown's blood was warm,
While Lincoln's assassination
Was the topic of the throng,
And the Ku Klux Klan was trying to prove
That liberty was wrong.
In the midst of all these conflicts
She planted her little flag
And moved right on in opposition
Of the enemy's sneers and nags,
Till she'd won them over and made them help
To wave that self-same flag.
She planted her little flag
And moved right on in opposition
Of the enemy's sneers and nags,
Till she'd won them over and made them help
To wave that self-same flag.
Three score years of service
Not knowing how to shirk,
Three score years in a steady drive,
And ever on the alert,
Knowing that the night was coming
When no human being could work.
Not knowing how to shirk,
Three score years in a steady drive,
And ever on the alert,
Knowing that the night was coming
When no human being could work.
She has builded human monuments here,
The walls of which will stand
Long after she's departed from
Her dwelling on the land,
Long after buildings have crumbled
That were built upon the sand.
The walls of which will stand
Long after she's departed from
Her dwelling on the land,
Long after buildings have crumbled
That were built upon the sand.
She decided to build for others
Buildings that sheltered her not,
Beneath the roof of the building
She's to have no part or lot,
And some who dwell in the building
Through all time may know her not.
Buildings that sheltered her not,
Beneath the roof of the building
89
And some who dwell in the building
Through all time may know her not.
And yet, when the days shall have ended,
And beneath the roof tree's shade,
When the children and the grandchildren
In their childish way have played,
And passed from under the building
And vanished into the shade,
And beneath the roof tree's shade,
When the children and the grandchildren
In their childish way have played,
And passed from under the building
And vanished into the shade,
Some dwellers beneath that roof tree,
Thinking of when it was new,
May say as their thoughts turn backward,
Keeping their ages in view,
The woman who builded these buildings
Builded better than she knew.
Thinking of when it was new,
May say as their thoughts turn backward,
Keeping their ages in view,
The woman who builded these buildings
Builded better than she knew.
And she, after she's passed onward
Hearing the Master's call,
May say, though it may not matter
To her what the buildings befall,
That it's better to build for others
Than to build no buildings at all.
Hearing the Master's call,
May say, though it may not matter
To her what the buildings befall,
That it's better to build for others
Than to build no buildings at all.
That song that has caused countless millions
To turn toward the heavenly throne,
That song that stirred her life blood
And made her heart throbs known,
“Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching home.”
To turn toward the heavenly throne,
That song that stirred her life blood
And made her heart throbs known,
“Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching home.”
90
Some day, when death steps on the scene
Saying, “You must go under the sod,”
She can smilingly say, “There is no death,
I do not fear your clods,
For during all my life's work
I've been standing on the promise of God.”
Saying, “You must go under the sod,”
She can smilingly say, “There is no death,
I do not fear your clods,
For during all my life's work
I've been standing on the promise of God.”
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