The lowliest born of all the land, br He wrung from Fate's reluctant hand br The gifts which happier boyhood claims; br And, tasting on a thankless soil br The bitter bread of unpaid toil, br He fed his soul with noble aims. br br And Nature, kindly provident, br To him the future's promise lent; br The powers that shape man's destinies, br Patience and faith and toil, he knew, br The close horizon round him grew, br Broad with great possibilities. br br By the low hearth-fire's fitful blaze br He read of old heroic days, br The sage's thought, the patriot's speech; br Unhelped, alone, himself he taught, br His school the craft at which he wrought, br His lore the book within his, reach. br br He felt his country's need; he knew br The work her children had to do; br And when, at last, he heard the call br In her behalf to serve and dare, br Beside his senatorial chair br He stood the unquestioned peer of all. br br Beyond the accident of birth br He proved his simple manhood's worth; br Ancestral pride and classic grace br Confessed the large-brained artisan, br So clear of sight, so wise in plan br And counsel, equal to his place. br br With glance intuitive he saw br Through all disguise of form and law, br And read men like an open book; br Fearless and firm, he never quailed br Nor turned aside for threats, nor failed br To do the thing he undertook.