A PARTING OF THE WAYS
Rexford, Eben E.
The Parting of the Ways By EBEN E. REXFORD Author of "Silver Thread Among the Gold OH MEN and brothers, these are fateful dayel We seem to stand at parting of the ways. Strange paths before our...
...What, think ye, mould they say who steered the state Past rocks and reefs, where dangers always wait, Into a peaceful harbor if to-day They knew the greater dangers in the way, This would they say, be sure, "Beware, beware...
...Be proud of battles won for Truth—and yet Let not the boast betray us to forget That other battles must be fought and won Before 'tis safe to count the danger done...
...Seek to know Truth before it is too late Sons of brave sires, 't would be a shameful fate If we, who have been free, and made men so, At cost of life and treasure, find a foe To overcome us in our triumph—time By promises that bear the brand of crime...
...Mighty the issues of the choice we make...
...Forego this boast of might Count this as true: The mightiest land must be The land that cares far more for liberty Than world-power, or the gold that grows from greed...
...If we feed On such poor food our strength will fall away, And, as Rome's did, so will our pride decay...
...Make we no compromise with what is base...
...Because the clouds about them will not break And let us see the future...
...Base things are these to strive for...
...Shall we, with freedom as our heritage, Make a foul blot upon the historic page By selling, Esau-like, the birthright won By valorous deeds of men like Washington...
...Dare ye venture there If, following them, you needs must put aside The old-time counsels and the old-time Guide That led us upward, onward, till we found True greatness on the heights, and men were crowned, As heroes and as statesmen, having striven To do, as best they could, the duties given Into their hands...
...New paths allure you...
...Ah me, what dangers lurk about the way...
...O men and brothers, heed the warning well...
...Some will lead downward, some lead nearer God, But we who face them know not which to take...
...How long shall it remain...
...Let high ideals of life and thought be set Along the road you choose to-day, and let Them be as beacon lights that other feet May follow to the heights whereon defeat Was never known, since those who follow Truth, Bright with the beauty of its deathless youth, Are in majority with God...
...We must grope Among the shadows, trusting that the hope Of greater, gladder, better things to be Will lead us in right ways until we see Fulfillment of the dreams that stirred the soul Of patriots striving for fair Freedom's goal...
...The lust for power, the greed for greater gain Is with us now...
...Hold fast to high ideals...
...Hold fast to the old truths...
...Pray for the faith that led our fathers out When days were dark and hope beset with doubt To do, and dare, and die if needs must be, For that which makes a nation truly free...
...From the place Drive out the bargainers who'd buy for gold Manhood and honor, priceless things, of old, And, as of old, so must we hold them still For Freedom's use wherewith to work her will...
...False lights allure us, and would lead astray, And siren voices, singing in our ears, Charm and bewilder till the Wrong appears Almost the Right...
...Know this— "Truth and true men rule where true greatness is...
...Be wise, and choose the Right for the Right's sake...
...Strange paths before our feet stretch out untrod...
...Let not Time tell How at the zenith of your fame you turned From the safe ways wherein was glory earned, To follow after strange gods, and to find The path-ends where blind leaders lead the blind...
...My brothers, see ye not What pitfalls wait where flowers mark the spot...
...We need not worry over paths untrod If we are wise enough to work with God...
...They followed as the Right Led on before...
...Be ye not drunken with successes past But strive for better things, and win at last...
Vol. 5 • March 1913 • No. 13
