There’s one, methinks, whose eloquence erst charmed this happy band, Who stays away through many a day in a sunny foreign land-- Who lingered where the soft moonlight plays through the Colosseum, And troops of idle beggars wait for strangers’ hands to fee ’em. Or where the setting sun goes down on Monte Rosa’s crest, And hoary Blanc bids grand good-night to the cloudlets in the west, And who strays even now, ’mong the vines and the trees, And walks the green slopes of the dark Pyrenees. Given us to be jurors and judge of this action, We’d reduce this delay to a very small fraction; But being quite powerless our cause to defend, We must learn to endure what we cannot amend. As the best of a bad case, let’s forgive her, shall we, And drink to her health in a cup of Bohea? And now for our bumpers but one greeting waits While we roll back our thoughts to the United States, For United as one they must ever remain, Since the blood of a million hath rusted the chain. With a link in each hand died the true and the brave, And sunk side by side in the low martyr’s grave. Their bones rest in peace ’neath the soil of their love, While their souls keep calm watch on the ramparts above. We would hide nae her faults, this dear land of our pride; We know she has errors on many a side; She’s restless, impatient, hurries on through her day, And treads on old customs that lie in her way. She’s bold in her speech, but there’s nae lack of truth, And her faults, let us hope, are the failings of youth. Yes, she’s young--oh, so young--and her robes are so bright, For she’s made herself gay with the stars of the night, And thrown o’er her shoulders a mantle of light That the oppressed of all nations keep ever in sight. Oh! each grasp the tissue that floats on the wind, For hid in its folds lie the hopes of mankind! Oh! guard Thou her ways, Great Eternal Lord God; Let her meekly but safely pass under thy rod! With her faults and her virtues we trust her to Thee And drink to her life in our cups of Bohea. CLARA BARTON CHAPTER IV RETURNING HOME