| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1740. The Parting of the Ways |
| | | By Joseph B. Gilder |
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| UNTRAMMELLED Giant of the West, | |
| With all of Nature’s gifts endowed, | |
| With all of Heaven’s mercies blessed, | |
| Nor of thy power unduly proud— | |
| Peerless in courage, force, and skill, | 5 |
| And godlike in thy strength of will,— | |
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| Before thy feet the ways divide: | |
| One path leads up to heights sublime; | |
| Downward the other slopes, where bide | |
| The refuse and the wrecks of Time. | 10 |
| Choose then, nor falter at the start, | |
| O choose the nobler path and part! | |
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| Be thou the guardian of the weak, | |
| Of the unfriended, thou the friend; | |
| No guerdon for thy valor seek, | 15 |
| No end beyond the avowêd end. | |
| Wouldst thou thy godlike power preserve, | |
| Be godlike in the will to serve! | |
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