| Publication information |
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Source: Poems of American History Source type: book Document type: poem Document title: “Faithful unto Death” Author(s): Titherington, Richard Handfield Editor(s): Stevenson, Burton Egbert Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Place of publication: Boston, Massachusetts Year of publication: 1908 Pagination: 650 |
| Citation |
| Titherington, Richard Handfield. “Faithful unto Death.” Poems of American History. Ed. Burton Egbert Stevenson. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1908: p. 650. |
| Transcription |
| full text |
| Keywords |
| McKinley assassination (poetry); William McKinley (poetry); William McKinley (mourning: poetry). |
| Named persons |
| none. |
| Notes |
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The following note accompanies the poem (p. 650): “Surgical aid was
at hand. It was found that the bullet had passed through the stomach;
both wounds were sewed up, and five days later the President was pronounced
out of danger. The next day, he showed signs of a relapse, and sank steadily
until death came early on the morning of Saturday, September 14.”
From title page: Collected and Edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson. |
| Document |
Faithful unto Death
[September 14, 1901]
HIS work is done, his toil is o’er;
A martyr for our land he fell—
The land he loved, that loved him well;
Honor his name for evermore!Let all the world its tribute pay,
For glorious shall be his renown;
Though duty’s was his only crown,
Yet duty’s path is glory’s way.For he was great without pretence;
A man of whom none whispered shame,
A man who knew nor guile nor blame;
Good in his every influence.On battle-field, in council-hall,
Long years with sterling service rife
He gave us, and at last his life—
Still unafraid of duty’s call.Let the last solemn pageant move,
The nation’s grief to consecrate
To him struck down by maniac hate
Amid a mighty nation’s love;And though the thought it solace gives,
Beside the martyr’s grave to-day
We feel ’t is almost hard to say:
“God reigns and the Republic lives!”