Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will

demand of thee and answer thou me. Job 38:3

Thy youth is ended now,

Thou art a man.

The time is past for play,

And stories at thy mother's knee,

And life points out to thee her plan.

Thou art a man, my son, a man.

Gird up thy loins

And take thy leave

Of childhood's happy scenes.

A sterner duty call thee now-

To show what goodness is in thee.

I ask, and thou shalt answer me.

Thou art grown up

To stature great,

And much responsibility

Will be on thee when I am gone.

Life calls thee. Time that thou began

To rise and gird thy loins and be a man.