Long, long, long the trail br Through the brooding forest-gloom, br Down the shadowy, lonely vale br Into silence, like a room br Where the light of life has fled, br And the jealous curtains close br Round the passionless repose br Of the silent dead. br br Plod, plod, plod away, br Step by step in mouldering moss; br Thick branches bar the day br Over languid streams that cross br Softly, slowly, with a sound br In their aimless creeping br Like a smothered weeping, br Through the enchanted ground. br br "Yield, yield, yield thy quest," br Whispers through the woodland deep; br "Come to me and be at rest; br "I am slumber, I am sleep." br Then the weary feet would fail, br But the never-daunted will br Urges "Forward, forward still! br "Press along the trail!" br br Breast, breast, breast the slope! br See, the path is growing steep. br Hark! a little song of hope br When the stream begins to leap. br Though the forest, far and wide, br Still shuts out the bending blue, br We shall finally win through, br Cross the long divide. br br On, on, onward tramp! br Will the journey never end? br Over yonder lies the camp; br Welcome waits us there, my friend.