Explore "A Scrap of Paper (the Red Flower and Golden Stars)" by Henry Van Dyke on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"Will you go to war just for a scrap of paper? " -- _Question of the / German Chancellor to the British Ambassador_, _August 5_, 1914.
A mocking question! Britain's answer came / Swift as the light and searching as the flame.
"Yes, for a scrap of paper we will fight / Till our last breath, and God defend the right!
"A scrap of paper where a name is set / Is strong as duty's pledge and honor's debt.
"A scrap of paper holds for man and wife / The sacrament of love, the bond of life.
"A scrap of paper may be Holy Writ / With God's eternal word to hallow it.
"A scrap of paper binds us both to stand / Defenders of a neutral neighbor land.
"By God, by faith, by honor, yes! We fight / To keep our name upon that paper white."
September, 1914.