Follow a Famous Father

I follow a famous father,

His honor is mine to wear;

He gave me a name that was free from shame,

A name he was proud to bear.

He lived in the morning sunlight,

And marched in the ranks of right.

He was always true to the best he knew

And the shield that he wore was bright.

I follow a famous father,

And never a day goes by

But I feel that he looks down to me

To carry his standard high.

He stood to the sternest trials

As only a brave man can;

Though the way be long, I must never wrong

The name of so good a man.

I follow a famous father,

Not known to the printed page,

Nor written down in the world's renown

As a prince of his little age.

But never a stain attached to him

And never he stooped to shame;

He was bold and brave and to me he gave

The pride of an honest name.

I follow a famous father,

And him I must keep in mind;

Though his form is gone, I must carry on

The name that he left behind.

It was mine on the day he gave it,

It shone as a monarch's crown,

And as fair to see as it came to me

It must be when I pass it down.