St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-08-13
! Fer lho e. ClouA Doneeeat.
4 RlC1UR1 - 4UE Wan.
~ A. II.

| ny A. n.
1. Ii. west the .ky w.s glowing lit. -. Of
molten gold,
Tvilisht's wings were half extended, - tho
| earth she would saield; ...
Eastward nov the psrpli.s shadexs slowly tsok
their lsngth'ning way, ,.s...
And the night v.s eha.stas peaas o'sr Tie still
a.eonqusred by. ,
Far away, the waviag praiiis seemed > robe
Of silver sheen,
Deeked with jewels that had gathered bright
eyed days departing CLEAN.
But I needed no. the beauty Of the glorious sum.
[ ner night,
For my eyes were dim With tear-drops, and I
could not see srisht.
A strong arm vas wound around ne, lore-ht
eyes looked in ny ewn,
But felt NO thrill Of slaAassa It that dear IA
miliar tone;
I must lay my sole heart treasure on the altar
Of the land,
Glowing with the flames Of freedom, by the
breath Of warfare famed. u
''Nannie, " saidAs .'every seuth.wiad sse.sto
thunder in my ear, p"
'when your country is In danger, Why do you
thus liseer hsre!' 49,.
And the blood Of those who perished, batti.s
for their native land,
Seems to cry to ne for vengsancs-vesseanee
from my own right hs.d!
'.On the ill-.t.rred field of Bethel there. an
humble, unmarked grave,
Where they laid my darling brother, once the
bravest of the brave;
He sank in the stream Of slaughter on that
short disastrous day.
But I've sworn that IN a,ense him-w:n you,
ean you, bid ne stay!''
o, the tears were falling, bat dashed them
quick aside:
''Go! and may the God Of battles be forever st
your side!''
But ny voice Was choked and heavy with the
weight Of unshsd tears,
And that moment seemed to bring me al the
garnered woe Of years.
''Noble Nannje!" and he kissed me - he push
ed the eurls sway,
That in heavy tangled masses on my throbbing
forehead lay;
"And tho on the field Of battle it may be my
lot TO fall,
There our Saviour will be with me, who is mer-
ciful to all.
May God bless yeu, Oh, my darling!" and he
turned - to depart,
Yet he paused . curl to sever and to place it
near his heart
He was gone-alons stood there in the twi-
light dim and gray,
Listening to his hssty footsteps till ths echoes
died away.
Summers gorgeous huas had yielded to the Au-
tums's brown and gold,
And the bright days Of October Ger our prai-
rie. slowly rolled.
Gently came the cooling breeses thro' the air
~ SOsb 0A4O U4A0S
And the ga1h'rers Of earth's bouaty paused to
chant the harvest hymn.
But the echoes Of the cannon came toward ~
from sfar,
Aad The nation listened, breathlees, to the surg
ing tide Of var.
On the plains Of old Virginia, meath her skies
% bright and fair,
Freedom's mighty hosts were battling, and I
knew that lie Was there.
Long and weary days waited, with . hope a.
most despair.
For the lowering mists Of battle to be fitted
from the air.
But At length, there came letter written BY a
strangers hand:
He had perished on the altar Of our glorious
| native land! +.
Foremost Of the brave and loyal-wel l knew
he would be there.
He had met :. death-vinged bullet Is 1t hur-
! tied thro' the air;
There they found him when the echoes Of the
strife had died away
One hand grasped . starry banner erimsoned
| With his blood, they sey.
~Tsn ny Ksnnis," saia he, Aiasly, to's eoa-
f. 1ade Who W. Dsae,
.7sll ny sNaa.3s tAst ws've 'eeeqassed sad
~ tAssd deaiA 10 .st ser; ~ q: -
fs.yiI lovsd'hsr next u duty, 70 ~ eo.stry,
I &3 ard 10 6od. O. -5~.' III %" 1.f1'',..
niyehef A,ekl etrsG Pve ShesfsAsd"-Ah!
2*a1 'tvss covered With -his blooal "a
Nfxat w e,sil.e da,kiy soaSd them ~Asa
d. thsy hid tta -sssvA . asip, @.~9
whsrs he bsssssG,ia sagsab saay Ger HI -tsah
4 thsir titdb kssp. ~ '~-'' g.
lHsis sirzi zitbstisg n ~ ssuth -lssd hy IN
r beood YotoG6s's vsvs, 1~%~ ID" "7@
I Wh9eg the fhirGGt s1A tle bsaSest Of our 3e0d
+ rENHva sfduId 1Ha1n 25s&J LOS '3t% =,