Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-05-21
R0RT's GoRNRR.
For the Gsliipoiis Journal.


LINES, (
On the death Of RErBEz b. SDwfIL, Co. B,
34th Ohio Reg list Zouavse,j wounded at
Point Pleasant, Va, March 30th, and died
April 10th 1868. - Ess c5 3 s'-5
He ives IN only son, nobls gallant boy,
A loving mothers pride and hope and 10y;
But twenty summers DER his head had noWn
Giving his cheek and eye nlanlier tone
Ala, and now he slesPeth in the colo oarE
grave,
An honor TO the blessed cause be died TO save;
Blessed be the living memory OF sucn as ne,
who fought and bled and died for liberty.
Trne 70 his country and his comrades dear,
T--s - tbe banner "our defenders" bear,
Rrsvelv he fell in conflict ,gainst the foe,
Wbose cruel messengers laid many 'lov'd
one" low. --r
oIstern cold fate, Why mark him for the tomb
Why pluck the flower Of life in youths first
bloom!
yTis thus we see the fair and brave must die
Our Savior hath need of them on high.
Perhaps be callsth such as him from earth.
That We more plainly may perceive their
worth;
Yes, Christ hSth taken Reuben to bis home,
Where wounds and sickness. pain and sorrow
are unknown.
o weep not, stricken mother. nor in anguish
sigh.
See, hopes beacon points us to the sky,
Bidding rs gaze upon that star-lit dome,
While angel voices whisper--"there is Reu-
benfs home" -
Mankind deceitfufly betraF their trust,
But our great "God Of Israel" is wholly just;
He tAketh TO himself the fitten one,
Then, gentle mother, mourn not for thy son.
He is not lost TO thee, bat gone before,
You have treasure rich on Eden's roseate
shore;
We know hard it is, this bitter loss 20 bear,
And vet it loosens ties of earth, and binds
thee stronger there.
How hard to know the time drew near 10 part;
To know Q traitors hand had crushed that
noble heart.
There is q vacancy beside the hearth stnight.
And another in the ranks where freemen strive
for rigat.
Comrades win mourn his death, but not in
tears,
Deeds of great vaIOr to svenge his death 10
theirs;
Flag of the Union DER our land shall wave,
Comrades will plant it o'er the hero's grave.
'TWere they who knew him, lov'd him. true
Through the rough march and fighting by
his side;
They have stood BY him on the battle plain.
Where lesden bullets fell round them like
rain.
Just as the spring buds burst into flowers,
And the song of gay birds eheered the sylvan
bowers,
We saw the brave sufferer whose cheek was
as pale
As the sweet snowy lily that blooms in the
vale.
In his eye beamed that brightness not COM
mon TO earth,
Which bespesks the approach of the spirits
new birth,
Not moan passed his lips, nor a murmur the
Like a martyr he lay with that earth weary
And knew in my heart that deaths sngel
did wait,
To bear his pure spirit to heavens bright
gate,
And my heart was crushed with its weight of
grief,
For twas not in my power to render relief
To the care laden mother who bent Ger him
low,
And wiped the cold sweat from the broad
pallid brow;
But knew that the God who is Just as he's
great,
Would in mercy watch over the heart desolate.
And to him rose my prayer, that he'd be by
To tighten the weight of affiiction's dark tide
o! weep not, dear friends, for Reuben doth
rest,
And the wound is now healed in his manly
breast.
Like the music Of waters sweet glideth the
time,
With comrades and friends in that "sunbright
Cline"
The roll of drums, nor the cannon's roar,
Nor the elashing of weapons ne'er sounds on
that shore.
Long may the violet droop Ger his mound,
And other bright flowers bloom in beauty
around,
And the soft noted robin shall tune his lay,
To sing sweet requiem at close of day.
There loving friends above him may weep,
And the cold, cold clay with their warm tears
steep,
Instead of the cannon and steel may the rose
And myrtle twTne round his quiet repose.
R. A. BLANKENSHIP.
MEscERvrLIE. o., 1853.