A Soldier's Farewell

"When I come back, " a soldier said
As he kissed her rosy cheek
"Oh! it may be a year or a month
But it could be only a week."

You will not forget the Cause, my dear,
or forget to write to me.
But what ere you do, remember
I will always cherish thee.

And the "war looks" be sure to smite
Then he said, "Goodbye" to the part of his heart
But he held his head high in the air
And she never forgot to write to him
Who was giving his life "Over There."

But alas, poor man he never came back,
To the girl he loved so well
As day by day she watched for him
Her heart began to swell
And now he sleeps beneath the sod
His life from care is free
Yet he died for his country's Cause
This brave youth of Liberty.

Written by Ida May Schaffer

Spring of 1918

Age of 12