Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-12-28
Selett 4oetrp.
tFrom the West Chester (Pa) T,mes.I
AN EVENING IN CAMP.

II Is evening on the camp croupd, and the
fading sunlight CLEANS
Over bill tops, into valleys and adown the
winding streams;
Weary drill at last is ended, and the soldiers
gather in
10 the music Of the Gfers and the sweet. oned
violin.
Noble sons Of patriot fathers, loving freedom
most OF oil,
Dseadipg more the tyrant's sceptre than the
rifles deadly ball
Each within his home'y quarters, or his hard
oppiiiowed bed,
Takes the uninvitios supper. by no loving
mother spread.
Not for them the winter Ere where the family
group is found,
Pleasant converge, peals Of laughter. merry
jrs,ings circi1g rouud
Where the mother piles her knitting, and the
eisters read or sew,
Aud the father paints 10 language, miracles
Of long ago"
Not Tor them Jet through their changes.
Memory keeps her taper bright.
Lighting up she streams Of daytime, and the
visions Of the Dight;
Hearts that kDow DO selfish terror, through
their tender pulses send,
TErobs Of strong magnetic feeling, to the
parent or the friend.
Oue is writing TO his mother, and his thought
iui eye grows dim.
With the memory of her kindness, and ber
loving care fer him;
Patient Of his youthful follies, quick to lead
aud slow TO blame,
Rising with bis rising hopor sinking If be sink
TO shame.
Well che knows her pilloweG slumbers are
not as they were OF old
Well he knows the grief and terror that her
peo hath never told
And he sees the dark Grown tresses, growing
winter day by oay,
Since her countrys tocsin sounded, and she
gave her all away
And snotber reads the message that q
Fathers hand hath seut,
Strong 10 courage, wise in council, glowing
with high intent;
"All bis prayers 60 forth to bless him--he
hae been bis pride and joy,
And the hopes Of past and present crowd
around his darling boy"
With quiveriue LIP he folds it, but bis keen
and steady eye,
Speaks the strong, unshaken courage, that
shall conquer or shall die;
Gentle words wife has written, there the
husband reads to night,
And his manly tears ore hidden in the fading
winter light.
Then he folds bis daughters billet in o warm
aud close embrace.
Hers, who holds the prisoned snnheams Of
eight summers 10 her face:
Al be cares not for the u.vode-s, through
each blurred and crooked line,
All the glances OF ber blue eyes and her bady
graces shine.
Needs mus. treuble they who called him from
such pleasures 20 the strife,
He will keep his vow Of vengeance at .he
peri! of bis life;
Where the sunbeams linger longest. needing
not the frosty dir,
With his pale young forehead shaded, s:ts
another reading there.
One ebo loved like him ibe poets, shared this
10 tbs days gone by,
And each line looks kindly at him through
,ba, sisters speaking eye.
"Sits she 10 the dear old Study, reading what
! read tonight,
Tracing ont the rJthmic numbers, in the
Fishing crimson light;
Or, perchspce, the lamps are lighted, and ras
pens lbe gentle line
That gives oldsn warmth and comfort 20 this
stranger life Of mine"
There ?oung man holds locket, gazing on
face SO dear,
Tha: the past becomes the present, and the
far away the near;
Over streams, and hills and valies, be lie
standing hy her side
And her dark brown eyes are liGn!d with the
eush Of love and pride.
Sweeter ;hGn the sounds Of summer is the
langU.ao that she Speaks;
Fsirer than Jnre's farest blossoms, ore the
roses on her cheeks,
And he feels today mere worthy Of her
plighted heart and hnad.
THAI wheu peace and smiling plenty blessed
his sorrowiHG FnthtTl Tlund,
! Breaking On the evenings hustle calls the
drcm to muster roll,
And the soldiers sterner duties shade the
:socics OF bis soul.
Turning 10 their straw aud hlenkets, quiet
| siumbers close tham round;
Nothing but the sentry's pacing breaks The
silence Of the ground,
And the stars look kindly on them from the
/ blue ETHEREAL sea,
/ Leading on the Hosts Of Freemen tbrongt
the gates Of victory, MELROSE.
S...=