Today I start my life for good;
I am determined now to find
The value of my real manhood;
And not to travel as if blind.
I am yet young in age and hope;
I shall so think and do aright,
Things human, and, all in my scope,
To make of life a shining light.

There shall be no mistake in plan,
For time does not permit to lose,
And win again, the race of man;
Hence, now I start, and rightly choose.
I shall not travel wild to find
That I have fallen almost flat,
Then rise to weep and leave behind
That I a coward was for that.

So find yourself in early age,
To know what you shall be in life;
Then go and write on hist'ry's page
The vict'ries of your daily strife;
For every man is battling you,
To cross the plain, with haste to win—
And hoist the flag in colors blue—
Then show the world where he has been.