_And then--ah, then! The deep voice murmurs "Mother!" And all life answers from the primal sea; A mingling of all lullabies; a peace That asks no understanding; the release Of nature's holiest power--who seeks another? Home? Home is Mother--Mother, Home--to me._
_"Home!" says the deep voice; "Home and Easy Pleasure! Safety and Comfort, Laws of Life well kept! Love!" and my heart rose thrilling at the word; "Mother!" it nestled down and never stirred; "Duty and Peace and Love beyond all measure! Home! Safety! Comfort! Mother!"--and I slept._
_A bugle call! A clear, keen, ringing cry, Relentless--eloquent--that found the ear Through fold on fold of slumber, sweet, profound-- A widening wave of universal sound, Piercing the heart--filling the utmost sky-- I wake--I must wake! Hear--for I must hear!_
_"The World! The World is crying! Hear its needs! Home is a part of life--I am the whole! Home is the cradle--shall a whole life stay Cradled in comfort through the working day? I too am Home--the Home of all high deeds-- The only Home to hold the human soul!_
_"Courage!--the front of conscious life!" it cried; "Courage that dares to die and dares to live! Why should you prate of safety? Is life meant In ignominious safety to be spent? Is Home best valued as a place to hide? Come out, and give what you are here to give!_
_"Strength and Endurance! of high action born!" And all that dream of Comfort shrank away, Turning its fond, beguiling face aside: So Selfishness and Luxury and Pride Stood forth revealed, till I grew fierce with scorn, And burned to meet the dangers of the day._
_"Duty? Aye, Duty! Duty! Mark the word!" I turned to my old standard. It was rent From hem to hem, and through the gaping place I saw my undone duties to the race Of man--neglected--spurned--how had I heard That word and never dreamed of what it meant!_
_"Duty! Unlimited--eternal--new!" And I? My idol on a petty shrine Fell as I turned, and Cowardice and Sloth Fell too, unmasked, false Duty covering both-- While the true Duty, all-embracing, high, Showed the clear line of noble deeds to do._
_And then the great voice rang out to the turn, And all my terror left me, all my shame, While every dream of joy from earliest youth Came back and lived!--that joy unhoped was truth, All joy, all hope, all truth, all peace grew one, Life opened clear, and Love? Love was its name!_