# The Soldier

- Source: McGuffey's Third Reader (third-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg
- Reading level: Grades 3 and 4
- Subjects: Poems
- Topics: soldier, ranks, shall, adams, afraid, armor
- Length: 154 words, about 1 min
- Original: <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14766>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/mcguffey-third/third-32-the-soldier>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=mcguffey-third/third-32-the-soldier>

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1\. A soldier! a soldier! I'm longing to he:  
The name and the life of a soldier for me!  
I would not be living at ease and at play;  
True honor and glory I'd win in my day.

2\. A soldier! a soldier! in armor arrayed;  
My weapons in hand, of no contest afraid;  
I'd ever be ready to strike the first blow,  
And to fight my way through the ranks of the foe.

3\. But then, let me tell you, no blood would I shed,  
No victory seek o'er the dying and dead;  
A far braver soldier than this would I be;  
A warrior of Truth, in the ranks of the free.

4\. A soldier! a soldier! Oh, then, let me be!  
My friends, I invite you, enlist now with me.  
Truth's bands shall be mustered, love's foes shall  
give way!  
Let's up, and be clad in our battle array!  
J. G. Adams.

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