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AN AMERICAN AT LINCOLN
101
With sacrifices few could understand—
Renouncing and enduring silently.
And I perceived that thou hast still retained
Their strength to toil, their courage to resist:
That seeking ardently whate'er they missed,
Thou hast remained—in spite of all, remained—
That which they made thee—an idealist!
And once again I felt how blest it is
To hunger and to thirst: anew I saw
That by eternal high-appointed law,
Sublimity and beauty most are his
In whom they move the deepest thrill of awe!
