 | Early and late poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
HUGH THE VOLUNTEER.
Boys, are you all at home to-night?
Simon, and Seth, and John?
How should the old house be so changed
If only one is gone!
Simon, and Seth, and John?
How should the old house be so changed
If only one is gone!
You know I love you, each and all—
I need not say I do,
But my heart is just as sad and sick
As if I had only Hugh.
I need not say I do,
But my heart is just as sad and sick
As if I had only Hugh.
I am with him in his tent at night—
His morning drill I share—
In the march, and in the field of fight—
I am with him everywhere.
His morning drill I share—
In the march, and in the field of fight—
I am with him everywhere.
I miss his strong and willing hands
In everything we do—
Another must do double work
To fill the place of Hugh.
In everything we do—
Another must do double work
To fill the place of Hugh.
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Pray for him night and morn, boys,
Pray for him all the day—
Let me see, if he lives he will be
Twenty years old in May.
Pray for him all the day—
Let me see, if he lives he will be
Twenty years old in May.
Ah, then we'll make the old house ring
With many a merry sound—
God grant he may be back again
Before the time comes round.
With many a merry sound—
God grant he may be back again
Before the time comes round.
Ay, back again, all sound and safe,
To sing a birthday glee,
And make his mother's heart grow young—
But if he should n't be;
To sing a birthday glee,
And make his mother's heart grow young—
But if he should n't be;
We'll keep his place at the table, all
The same as if he were here—
He is n't the lad to spare himself,
But there is n't much to fear.
The same as if he were here—
He is n't the lad to spare himself,
But there is n't much to fear.
He is n't the lad to spare himself,
Nor the lad to yield the right—
But would to God this fight were done,
And our Hugh at home to-night!
Nor the lad to yield the right—
But would to God this fight were done,
And our Hugh at home to-night!
| Early and late poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |