Once I knew a noble peasant br From a line of men large-hearted. br Light and strength were in his mind, br Lifted like a peak clear-lined br O'er the valley in spring sunshine, br First to feel the morning's beam, br First refreshed by cloud-born stream. br br Wide the springtime spread its banner, br Waving in his will illumined, br Bright with promise, color-sound; br Heritage of toil its ground. br Round that mountain music floated, br Songsters sweet of faith and hope br Nestled on its tree-clad slope. br br Sometime, sometime all the valley br Like him shall with light be flooded; br Sometime all his faith and truth br Sunward grow in dewy youth, br And the dreams he dreamt too early br Live and make him leader be br For a race as true as he.