The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 3.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[243] Our path is plain; the war-net draws
     Round us in vain,
While, faithful to the Higher Cause,
     We keep our fealty to the laws
Through patient pain.

The levelled gun, the battle-brand,
     We may not take:
But, calmly loyal, we can stand
     And suffer with our suffering land
For conscience' sake.

Why ask for ease where all is paina?
     Shill we alone
Be left to add our gain to gain,
     When over Armageddon's plain
The trump is blown?

To suffer well is well to serve;
     Safe in our Lord
The rigid lines of law shall curve
     To spare us; from our heads shall swerve
Its smiting sword.

And light is mingled with the gloom,
     And joy with grief;
Divinest compensations come,
     Through thorns of judgment mercies bloom
In sweet relief.

Thanks for our privilege to bless,
     By word and deed,