North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-12-31

But when and how he'll call US hence
Is beyond the ken of all
Some in age and some in childhood,
Some at home and some abroad,
Some by sudden stroke, some slowly,
All appear before their God.
But Of the most affecting summons,
The fate that calls the saddest tear,
The death most narrowing, agonizing,
List, each sympathetic ear.
NELSON GEORGE and HIRAM HARDING,
Brothers true as death e'er proved,
From among their friends and comrades
Most mysterlously are moved.
Brave they were and noble hearted,
Their spirits buoyant as the air,
STRONG and healthy, every promise
Was of life and pleasure fair,
At manhoods morn, they left Tunkhaunock.
And father, sisters, friends unnumbered
Their living forms shall see no more.
Hiram rides DER broad Atlantic,
Visits France, views foreign scenes
Nelson labors in Missouri,
And they meet in New Orleans.
Two long years had almost vanished
Since they left fair Wyoming,
Its remembrance was a solace,
To its sons they fondy cling.
Gold they'd gathered in good measure,
Found twas vain abroad to roam,
And resolved n" more to wander,
But return and die at home.
Then they wrote glad d'ning letter:
- Seek for US some sure employ;
In March next we Will be with you,
Then how great will be our joyn'
To the packet-ship, John Minturn,
lIomeward bound they next repair;
Onward flies the gallant vessel
With propitisus tide and arr
Erienls at home receive the message,
Joyful hail their presence near;
But how vain their expectation!
They'll see them only on their bier
For chill east winds on Jerseys coast
With snow and sleet the bark surround,
Which vainly tries to brave the tompest-
She stops, she drifts, she is aground
Up rise screams and prayers to heaven,
In mingled ncoherent fright;
The ships joints give. an instant threaten
Sinking all in that dread night.
The Sabbath dawns-no Sabbath there
Near the shore the vessel lies,
And human beings throng its banks
Whose voices o'er the waters rise.
"Cheer up ~ exclaims the fearless Captain,
" lie ana chlldren, 90 not SrIeVe;
Here are men, all Christians honest,
They our woes will soon relieve"
Alas they come not-hour by hour
The wretched sufferers gaze intent
Upcn the shore still lined with men,
But still, 0 God no help is sent.
Day wears apace, the cold increases.
The timbers part. and swallow up
A score of souls that frost had spared,
And now remains scarce hope.
To guide the, ship from dangers save,
And to cheer the inmates too,
The Brothers 'mong the foremost were,
And hope and idol of the crew.
Now ten O clock at eve had come,
And faint the feeble life blood Sped
When first assistance came to save
The few unnumbered with the dead.
Nelson, as Hiram deemed, had fallen
In watery tomb before,
And with the living he had turned
Towards tn inbospitable shore
A groan he hears-'tis surely Nelson's
His brother finds him, struck with death
And every method tries incessant
To quicken his subsiding breath.
He is now past all assistance,
Nought can save him from the grave,
Cease your kind but fruitless efforts,
Duty calls yourself to save.''
"Ahr' says Hiram, "the love bear him
Is stronger far than fear of death;
will not leave nay noble brother
While of life he has breath %
Unto the beach the vessel hastens,
The two only do remaine
Returning soon, 'tis found that Nelson,
Has escaped frc IN hafnan'pain.
Then to the shore the faithful Hiram
Quick is brought, but, ah too late,
His Efforts to preserve his brother
Had but doomed him to his fate.