If You But Knew
O lad, my lad, if you but knew
The glowing dreams I dream of you—
The true, straight course of duty run,
The noble deeds, the victories won,
And you the hero of them all—
I know that you would strive to be
The lad that in my dreams I see;
No tempter’s voice could make you fall.
Ah, lad, my lad, your frank, free smile
Has cheered me many a weary mile;
And in your face, e’en in my dreams,
Potent of future manhood beams—
Manhood that lives above the small;
Manhood all pure and good and clean,
That scorns the base, the vile, the mean,
That hears and answers duty’s call.
And lad, my lad, so strong and true,
This is the prayer I pray for you:
Lord, take my boy, and guide his life
Through all the pitfalls of the strife;
Lead him to follow out Thy plan,
To do the deeds he ought to do,
To all Thy precepts ever true;
Make him a clean and noble man.