Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-07-26
THE VOLUNTEERS WIFE.
by GEORGE ALFRED TOWNSEND.

We were informed that two members Of the
National Guards were married, just before being
ordered to march, in the area adjacent to the
fountain in the centre of the camp at Franklin
Square. squad Of soldiers marked the eere-
.p3ay, and a corps Of drummers and fiters, that
&-.re at hand, struck up acertain goodly tune
Gteportey Of the Press, Nay Is.
find it hard to credit the experience l have
known;
To be married in the twight--in the darkness
and alone;
To sit beside my window, when the clouds blot
out the arch,
And think how long my heart must wait while
he is on the march.
We were welded at the Fountain, beneath the
open sky,
And, grouped amid the maple boughs the regl'
ment stood by
Their bayonets flashed brightly beneath soft,
pale moon,
And a file of handsome drummer lads struck up
pleasant tune.
lie took my moist, hot hand in his, As he had
done before;
And the parsons talk was low and sweet, like
some dear voice of yorc.
] seemed to be girl again-the wedding was a
spell
And hardly knew what words were said-twas
like a funeral
How like mocFery /, seemed-thc formulary
part
They asked me would love him-I looked into
my heart
Would l obcy' Had he not gone at the sum
mons stern and grim
And honor1 Was there woman who could not
honor himi
Some lond cheers broke the stiffness; it was our
wedding peal;
Twas folded to his bcltcd blouse, the marriage
rite 10 seal.
A score pressed up to shake his hand and cheer
his soldiers wife
Their studied compliments were drowned;
heard tie Grum and fife.
He wrung my hand and whispered-he kissed
me once again;
A harsh hard voice ran down the ranks, Of "Fall
in fall in, men"
! bucklcd on his knapsack-its weight was like
4 rock,
And as gave his musket' some tears ran down
the stock,
He said, Goodbye, Maria !" My throat was
hard and dry;
He said that should write to him-I could not
make reply;
But when he stood amid the lines, felt my
pulses leapng;
Why should a soldiers wife be dumb, and shame
his flag by wecpng'
The bnnd struck up glorious air my thoughts
were sad ard bitter;
And tramping down the leafy aisles, l saw the
havoncts glitter.
lie might have ,Gvucd his head again, but was
0lin. with sobbing.
Tie fountain tinkled on the night heard the
music throbbng,
They he'd in the dusky light; how wild the
streets . l4tf c.
'Tis well .oi those to wave their hats who send
no loves to bait
Think, when all the war is done, and still the
nation free
IT. in the scattered regiment, he shall come back
to me-
If sNll the sandy locks shall nod above his eye
so blue;
II still his step shall be as proud, his love as
frank and true
Perhaps, amid the battered few that tramp be-
hind the drum,
One day unto my fathers door crippled man
shall come
Perhaps, amid my tears, some morn the tidings
l may spell,
Amid victorious returns, of one who fought and
fcr;
Who lay amid the manglcd heaps, where blood
ran like lea,
And pressed his hand upon his heart, and. dy-
ing, spoke of me.
Then, women who have husbands will tell of
glorious wars,
And honor him who bravely fell beneath the
Stripes anu Stars;
And shall hug my widows weeds while life
shall Nb apace,
And mari unon no child of mine the hue of his
dear f. .e.
But all my dreams still hear the drums that beat
our wedding peal,
The tnle of the falling spray, the clink of sabre
steel.
The muse of his sad farewell, the kiss before he
went
The hrtter of the sil1en flag above the regiment
No COW -rd mark rests on him; his duty called
him forth!
The eagle led him Southwark from Tlis eyrie in
the North
He threw his body in the breach the flag went
on before;
And his wife shall love him better that he loved
his country more! Philadelphia Press.
s--<-~zE <-.--- -sz~z---z<zz---s
ESy If we would induce others TO act
virtuously, it will prove more effectual
to show them their capacities than to ex-
pose their weakness ito attract them
by fairer ideal than TO terrify by pic