973.7L63 
 H2R492o 
 
 Risdon, F. Ray 
 
 Ode to Lincoln's 
 Log Cabin 
 
LINCOLN ROOM 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 the class of 1901 
 
 founded by 
 HARLAN HOYT HORNER 
 and 
 HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER 
 

 ODE TO LINCOLN'S LOG CABIN 
 
 AND OTHER VERSE 
 ■23? F. Ray Risdon 
 
One of God's Noblest Gentlemen- 
 Jtmerica's Qeutlest D^oblemanl 
 
 • 
 
ODE TO 
 
 LINCOLN'S LOG CABIN 
 
 AND OTHER VERSE 
 
 BY 
 
 F. Ray Risdon 
 
 GARDENA, CALIFORNIA 
 
 SPANISH AMERICAN INSTITUTE PRESS 
 
 19 2 4 
 
THIS EDITION LIMITED TO 
 ONE HUNDRED COPIES, OF 
 WHICH THIS IS NUMBER 
 
 £>o 
 
ODE TO LINCOLN'S LOG CABIN 
 
Lincoln's Log Cabin 
 
 O^ow enshrined in the [Memorial Hall 
 
 dedicated b\ "President Woodrozc Wilson 
 
 in September, 1916 
 
 (LJQ 
 
 lowly hut of rough-hewn logs; 
 O cabin-home of frontier folk; 
 O birthplace shrine — to thee we pay 
 Our Nation's debt of gratitude! 
 
 Within thy walls was born to us, 
 Five score and seven years ago, 
 
 That lad, who, grown to man's estate, 
 Preserved our Union, saved our land. 
 
 [7 
 
As President and patriot, 
 
 He freed four million negro slaves, 
 And gave his life — a martyr's gift — 
 
 When stricken down by traitor's hand. 
 
 A marble hall we've built for thee, 
 
 And dedicated thine abode: 
 Memorial to him we love, 
 
 Whose mansion is Eternity. 
 
 Protected now from storms of Time, 
 Within this building beautiful, 
 
 Still stand, O sacred shrine, and speak 
 To generations yet unborn! 
 
 May thy rude frame and mem'ries sweet 
 
 Inspire humanity, and tell 
 Of him, — a product of our soil, — 
 
 Who loved mankind and liberty. 
 
 And may this "honored dead" still live, 
 While ages pass — as even now, — 
 
 Enshrined within the hearts of men: 
 Our greatest y noblest citizen. 
 
 Los vfngeleSy California 
 Sepember 1916 
 
 [8] 
 
My Service Creed 
 
 He serves God best who serves his fellowmen- 
 
 And who can better serve than he 
 Who loves his Lord supremely, 
 His brother-man sincerely, 
 And strives, each day, 
 The Christian life to live? 
 
 He truly lives who loves and serves. 
 
 [9 
 
Abraham Lincoln 
 a chronology 
 
 In a log cabin lowly born; 
 
 Lawyer true, and legislator; 
 Lover of mankind, patriot; 
 
 Liberator, statesman, martyr. 
 
 to] 
 
To Mary Mine 
 
 The meadow has its clover-grass, 
 Each flower has its bee; 
 
 Each worthy lad his lovely lass, 
 And I — rich man! — have thee 
 
 11 
 
Heart's Desire 
 
 O for a spot where flowers bloom, 
 
 A place where trees and mountains loom: 
 
 The home of folk and God above — 
 There let me live, and work, and love I 
 
 I 12 I 
 
Just Beyond 
 
 Beyond the hills which crown the slope, 
 The friendly mountains lie; 
 
 Their rugged peaks of purple-gray 
 Outlined against the sky. 
 
 Behind the clouds which dim our sun, 
 That glowing orb still shines; 
 
 While, lighting up the crystal pools, 
 The rainbow tops the pines. 
 
 Beyond the frontiers of our world, 
 
 A better Land, and fair, 
 Invites and calls and welcomes all — 
 
 Our Homeland, Over There. 
 
 [13 
 
The Upward Climb 
 
 The traveled road of yesterday 
 
 Behind my back doth lie: 
 To-day's rough path ahead doth stretch, 
 
 And I must climb — or die. 
 
 14 
 

 
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 3 0112 002242433