LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE

Saw you in his boyhood days

O'er Kentucky's prairies;

Bending to the settler's ways

Yon poor youth whom now we praise--

Romance like the fairies?

Hero! Hero! Sent from God!

Leader of his people.

Saw you in the days of youth

By the candle's flaring:

Lincoln searching for the truth,

Splitting rails to gain, forsooth,

Knowledge for the daring?

Hero! Hero! Sent from God!

Leader of his people.

Saw you in his manhood's prime

Like a star resplendent,

Him we praise with measured rhyme

Waiting for the coming time

With a faith transcendent?

Hero! Hero! Sent from God!

Leader of his people.

Saw you in the hour of strife

When fierce war was raging,

Him who gave the slaves a life

Full and rich with freedom rife,

All his powers engaging?

Hero! Hero! Sent from God!

Leader of his people.

Saw you when the war was done

(Such is Lincoln's story)

Him whose strength the strife had won

Sinking like the setting sun

Crowned with human glory?

Hero! Hero! Sent from God!

Leader of his people.

Saw you in our country's roll

Midst her saints and sages,

Lincoln's name upon the scroll--

Standing at the topmost goal

On the nation's pages?

Hero! Hero! Sent from God!

Leader of his people.

Hero! Yes! We know thy fame;

It will live forever!

Thou to us art still the same;

Great the glory of thy name,

Great thy strong endeavor!

Hero! Hero! Sent from God!

Leader of his people.

[Illustration: LINCOLN THE LAWYER