Winning the Wilderness

Project Gutenberg's Winning the Wilderness, by Margaret Hill McCarterThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalmost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away orre-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.orgTitle: Winning the WildernessAuthor: Margaret Hill McCarterIllustrator: J. N. MarchandRelease Date: December 12, 2008 [EBook #27505]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WINNING THE WILDERNESS ***Produced by Roger Frank and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.netWinning the WildernessIn all the story of the world of man,Who blazed the way to greater, better things?Who stopped the long migration of wild men,And set the noble task of building human homes?The learned recluse? The forum teacher?The poet-singer? The soldier, voyager,Or ruler? ’T was none of this proud line.The man who digged the ground foretold the destinyOf men. ’T was he made anchor for the heart;Gave meaning to the hearthstone, and the birthplace,And planted vine and figtree at the door.He made e’en nations possible. Aye, whenWith his stone axe he made a hoe, he carved,Unwittingly, the scepter of the world.The steps by which the multitudes have climbedWere all rough-hewn by this base implement.In its rude path have followed all the minorArts of men. Hark back along the centuries,And hear its march across the continents ...