The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-08-15
The Volunteers Wife.


and corps of drummers and fifers, that were at
hand, struck up certain goodly tune.-Phil.
Press. Aay1 al5.4 '
find it hard to credit the experience Ihave known
To be married in the twilig ght-in the darkness be
alone;
To sit beside my window, when the clouds blot out
the arch, tta at
And think how long my heart must wait while he
is on the march,.
We were welded at the fountain, beneath the open
| sky, f-r s1f .r3f} is
And grouped amid the maple boughs. the regiment
| stood by; f.sr .f- a5 urorI ea
Their bayonets flashed brightly beneath SOFT pale
| moon, s4ad,ar =,
Fle Of handsome drummer lads struck up a
aGd Ri IIII7
b, pleasant tune. l3 q ni hai.fa sft
He took my moist, hot hand in his, as he h'. "o"e
before;
dear voice of yore
l seemed to be a girl again-the wedding was a
spell
And hardly knew what words were said-'twas like
funeral. Tff- 4
How like mockery it seemed-the formulary part!
They asked me would love him-l looked into
my heartl Hc-Ef blE Si't3
Would obey9 Had he not gone at the summons
stern and grim? Cs.isI fa
And honor? Were there women who could not
honor him? .llt..i ,..l i'a '.a.s
Some loud cheers broke the stiffness; it was our
wedding neal af
was folded to his belted blouse the marriage rite
to seal.
score passed up to shake his hand, and cheer the
soldiers wife ..-.,.t ,,,,. -f'I'
Their studied compliments were drowned; heard
the drum and fife. 2" i'' -
He wrung my hand, and whispered-he kissed me
once again; s'i i""
A harsh, hard voice ran down the ranks, of " Fall
in! fall in men!" 20 es-t-as..o. cod
buckled on his knapsack-its weight was like a
rock,
And as gave his musket, some tears ran down the
stock. .H1l Y.-G
He said, ''Good by, Maria!" My throat was hard
SO and dry; buG ii.-.a .-'s.
He said that should write to him-I could not
| make reply; '-g 1.1tefl51
But when he stood amid the lines, felt my pulse:
leaping; .l.. ~
Why should soldiers wife be dumb, and shame
his flag by weeping9 -.t s,.,t
The band struck up glorious air: my thought:
| were sad and bitter; s.rl,iaI 8 ~
And tramping down the leafy aisles, l saw the
| bayonets glitter; q.ea. -u...
He might have turned his head again, but wa.
| blind with sobbing;
The fountain tinkled on the night heard tn,
music throbbing.
They vanished in the dusky light: how wild tb
| streets with rattle. -..'- ,r yfI 4
'Tis well for those to their hats who send M
| loves to battle; tf d
l think, when all the war is done, and still th
| nation free, ...f ...
IT. in the scattered regiment, he shall come bacl
| Na to me. NJ
If still the sandy locks shall nod above his eyes
/ blue, .t.,.- t,f-.-., -.-y.. -rt.i4a n
If still his step shall be proud his love as fran
and true. .f .,r ..f- .-,.ss.a..aa
Perhaps, amid the battered few that tramp behin
the drum, 10
One day unto my fathers door crippled man shal
come.
Perhaps, amid my tears, some morn, the tidings
may spell, m 9!s-sss7f. s,auib
| Amid victorious returns, of one who fought an
fell;, tr >~
Who lay amid the mangled heaps, where blood ra
like lea,
And pressed his hand upon his heart, and dying
spoke of me- ii7a.'t itt n5
Then, women who have husbands will tell Q
30 glorious wars, a'NA ) AN5>elaaf- li-t
And honor him who braveiy fell beneath the stripe
So and stars; 9 2.3 -t..
And i shall hug my widows weeds while life sha
0, ebb apace, 1r vleglroli oIff aai
And mark upon no child of mine the hue of hi
,r dear face. 81 Z. dfiu .1iiffs sifUt.gi
But all my dreams stin hear the drums that bea
our wedding peal, Eo 3i. ffi .i
The tinkle of the falling spray, the clnk of sabe
The music of his sad farewell, the kiss before h
went, ay - f3rr
The lutter of the silken flag above the regiment
, No coward mark rests on him; his duty called hir
, forth
The agile led him southwark from his eyry in th
North,
He threw his body in the breach the flag went o
before; .ea agzG
And his wife shall love him better that he loved h
country more. s -.staf =