Europe and elsewhere, by Mark Twain [pseud.] [with an appreciation by Brander Matthews and an introduction by Albert Bigelow Paine]

EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE
our hearts, go forth to battle-be Thou near them!
With them-in spirit-we also go forth from the
sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe.
O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to
bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their
smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot
dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with
the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help
us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane
of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn
them out roofless with their little children to wander
unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags
and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of
summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in
spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the
refuge of the grave and denied it-for our sakes who
adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their
lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy
their steps, water their way with their tears, stain
the white snow with the blood of their wounded
feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who
is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful
refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek
His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen."
(After a pause.) "Ye have prayed it; if'ye still
desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High
waits."
It was believed afterward that the man was a
lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

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