Responsibility

Why are our ideals hid from hostile eyes As boys in school hide toys from master's view? Let them be real as we believe them true — Real as our chartered laws and liberties. All precious rights that we possess and prize Were ideals once, unshaped, unripe, and new, The wild delusions of the crack- brained few, The trifles mocked at by the worldly- wise. Some must be first; and every coward blights His brother's hope, and spreading Truth arrests; While every brave man helps the world, and lights The flame of courage in a thousand breasts. So let us bear our meed of vulgar scorn, And wait the judgment of the years unborn.