Backing of Friends

Do you ask me, hardy brothers,
     Toilers at the wheel and plow, 
Men of pith who salt your gruel
     By the sweat-drops of your brow, 
"Men of thought and men of action,"
      “Bone and sinew" of the land — 
Who for this great country's Captain
     Has my heart, and vote, and hand,—
"I shall answer, I shall tell you,"
     " Live or perish, sink or swim," 
I will vote for my good Captain ;
     He backed me, and I'll back him!

Eastward of the Inland Ocean,
     Near a mountain's frozen peak, 
Toiling through the wild Cordilleras,
     Once my heart and limbs grew weak. 
"Let me die !" I said, ''my Captain;
     Let me die ! I can not go!" 
0, how brother-like he answered,
     "Die? my noble fellow! No!" 
And he bound me on his shoulders,
     As my failing eyes grew dim, 
O'er the crag, on knees blood-dripping;
He backed me, and I’ll back him!

O, I saw him when our brother —
     Now who sleeps upon the trail,
Through the night of snow and tempest
     Was brought dying, cold and pale — 
How with action prompt and tender,
     And a woman's melting eye,
He made famine seem less bitter,
     Less a bitter thing to die; 
But, I thought, this man was gentle,
     I a blouse — ah, foolish whim!
On his red knees, like a brother, 
     He backed me, and I'll back him!

All who served him learned to love him.
     More than life, should peril call; 
They were equal who were faithful,
     Black and white, rich, poor, and all. 
By his words for honest labor,
     For free Laborer and soil, 
By the vast wealth opened to us
     In his own unwearying toil,
All true hearts with me may answer,
     "Here is Honor's synonym; 
When he served the poor and needy,
     He backed me, and I’ll back him!"