The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-05-27
Che Gssapist.
For the Porrysburg Journal.
THE DESOLATlON OF WAR.

Tonight, in solitude sit by my table, meditsting
on days which have fed, bearing with them treas
ures that can never be restored in this once happy
butnow mourning land of distress. Tonight, while
some are happy, thousands more are wipiog from
their eyes the bitter toars Of sorrow. Children,
who used to hasten to meet their fathers at the re
a. oventide, have tonight their little hearts nearly
broken as they gather around the last fond parent
the beloved mother, and by each fact is realized,
which is but too true that the stay and prop gone
gone forever Oh /! children tonight are weeping,
wives tonight are mourning, fathers and mothers
to-nigh. are sighng all lamenting over their
loved ones departed, who have yielded their lives
in honor to their country. The husband and father
has lcf, his beloved family and vacated his chair
at the table around which that happy circle oft
have gathered, and gone to meet his country's en-
envy yea gone oven beyond that bourne from
whence no traveller e'er returns. A noble boy and
brother has for the last time, grasped within his,
tho hand Of atiectionate mother and loving sis
ter, while amidst falling tears of love, the last
good bye has bOen exchanged, and gone to come
no more. All gone gone to meet no more around
the family altar, no more to fill vacant seat, no
more to be with us at home, no more to join with
US in song, no more to kneel with us in prayer but
full Of love for their homes and their countryheir
affairs and their fires, they have, with proper de-
gree of reluctance. loft behind all the dearest ties
Of nature and gone hoping for, but not living to
the day of our nations redress. Those loved ones
have met the foe, and true to the colors, they
6inched not in battle, but with noble daring rushed
on, until within the midst of clashing swords, and
rafting bayonets aud In the hottest of the fire. they
fell to bleed, TO die, to rise no more but war
rcrs, to rest in graves to be unfeQuented by loved
one3 on somo southern mountain side, or in some
forest dell perhaps the breezy coast of Allan
ties broad e1panse Their tomb is not in the cem-
etsry at home, where friends may gather around
and drop tear Of sympathy, or decorate it with
the dropping willow, the rose-bush the vino; aud
the accustomed enveloped messenger ccmeH no
more to tell Of Joy or grief ofsickness of health,
hut fathers and mothers, wives, sisters, and broth
ers are tonight weeping in homes made desolate
by the ravages Of war and from each shattered
altar of our land goes up the mourncr's prayer,
broken in articulation for Gods own hand to save
us from further distress aud quell this
raging storm, and bid in triumph, "Peace, be
still" viii Gods eternal promise DO forgotten,
to hear the sincere suppliants cry, as it goes up
from the consecrated altar and the pulpit How
long must eur land be bathed in blood? When
shall Affections rod be stayed, the mourner's tear
be dried ? Is our national sin so great that the
last frst-born of all our sons must be n sacri-
fee to appeaso the wrath of God or is deliver
anco near2 The God of Battles knows the end,
and relying on Him, let us still go forth in valor
to the field, contonding for the right, and if we
fall may each one fall in sight of everlasting bliss
and may the Father love and bless the ones we
leave bohind, providing for the needy, consolng
the distressed, aud binding up the broken hearts.
JEFF.
CITY BARRACKS, COLUMBUS, o., May IA.