Classic Poem

Come, freemen of the land,
Come meet the great demand,
True heart and open hand,—
Take the loan!
For the hopes the prophets saw,
For the swords your brothers draw,
For liberty and law,
Take the loan!

Ye ladies of the land,
As ye love the gallant band
Who have drawn a soldier's brand,
Take the loan!
Who would bring them what she could,
Who would give the soldier food,
Who would staunch her brothers' blood,
Take the loan!

All who saw our hosts pass by,
All who joined the parting cry,
When we bade them do or die,
Take the loan!

As ye wished their triumph then,
As ye hope to meet again,
And to meet their gaze like men,
Take the loan!

Who would press the great appeal
Of our ranks of serried steel,
Put your shoulders to the wheel,
Take the loan!
That our prayers in truth may rise,
Which we press with streaming eyes
On the Lord of earth and skies,
Take the loan!