From mountain homes engirdled
By shadowy gloom of pines,
From hamlets whence the fisher’s boat
Sets sail o’er stormful seas to float;
From darkling depth of mines,
A host come forth to cast their vote,
A host in marshaled lines.
Clear-eyed, strong-limbed, and sturdy.
These honest sons of toil, —
They hold the ballot like a prayer,
Uplifted through the fateful air,
That none our land may spoil.
In their young manhood everywhere
They rise to guard the soil.
From cloistered halls of study,
From classroom and debate,
With chastened look and mien severe,
Another army draweth near.
In patriot hope elate, —
The vote they drop, a pledge sincere
To love and serve the State.
Up from the busy cities,
From many a thronging street,
Come reinforcements brave and strong;
And, like the rhythm of a song,
I hear their marching feet, —
To aid the weak, to right the wrong,
Nor meanly to retreat.
God bless the pure endeavor,
God guide the earnest thought;
God lead these youthful columns on,
Where only Freedom’s fights are won,
And Freedom’s glory sought, —
Where Truth’s light-bringers forward run,
And Truth’s brave deeds are wrought.
–Margaret E. Sangster.
This poem by Margaret Elizabeth Sangster opened a 1919 civics book entitled Preparing For Citizenship: An Elementary Textbook in Civics by William Backus Guitteau, Ph.D. Guitteau published this textbook while serving as the Superintendent of Schools in Toledo, Ohio.
Margaret Elizabeth Sangster (February 22, 1838 – 1912) was an American poet, author, and editor. She was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century.
TL;DR Civics 