Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-10-15
The sunset orEinttle.

hbe ssuDsct Oh buftles
The following magnificent prose poem ap.
! pcared in The Museum" some forty yoars
ago, and deserves to be treasured with the
noblest pocticai productions in our Ian
| guage. The descriptive exordiuni Is ali
alive with the tine frenzy of war, while the
, apostrophe to the dying soldier breattes the
heart stirring eloquencc OF genuine inspira-
ti"n. Where is the autiquary that can tell
us who wrote this
! Tie shadows OF evening are thickening.
| Twilight close, and thin mists are rising
III the valley. The last charging squadron
( yet thundcrs in the distance but it pre-ssss
! only on the toiled aud scattered foe; for this
! day the fight is over
And those who rode foremost in its field
at mOrning--where are they now7 On the
bank of yon little stream there lies knight
his life blood ebbing faster than its tide
his shield Is rent, and his lance is broken
! Soldier why taintest thOu2 The blood that
wells from that deep wound shall answer.
! 1t was this morning, that the sun rose
| bnght upon his hopes; it sets upon his
| grave. This Gay he led the foremost rank of
spears, that in their long row leveled--
when they had crossed the foes dark line
death shouted in the onset 1t was the last
blow that reached him. He hiss conquered,
| though he shall not triumph in the victory.
His hEcastplate Is dinted; his helmet has
| the trace of well dealt blows. The Scarf
! on his breast-she would shrink bu. to
| touch 1T now, who placed it there Sol
dicrs, what will thy mistress say She will
say that her knight died worthily.
Ay, rouse thee, for the fight yet chafes in
! the distance! Thy friends are shouting
| thy pennon floats on high Look on your
crimson field, that seems to mock the pur-
! plea clouds above it PROSTATE they lie,
! drenched IN their dark red pool-thy friends
and enemiea-the dead and dying the vete-
ran with the STRIPPING of IA day the name
less trooper and the leader of a hundred
hosts; friend lies with friend and foes
linked IN their long embrace-their first and
last--the grippe OF death.
Far DER the field they lie, gorgeous
ruin White plume and steel marou-.sa.
| bre and ataghan--crescenL and cross--rice
vest and bright corsiet; we came to the
| fight US We had come TO a Neutrality-suspicious.
and glitterng, even III death, each shining
warrior lies
His last glsnce still seeks that christian
banner! The cry that shall never be repes-
ted cheers on its last charge Oh but for
strength to reach the field once more to die
in the foes front Peace, dreamer Thou
hast done well. Thy place in the close rank
IS filled, and yet another waits Tor his who
holds it.
knight' hast thou yet a thought to bind
it on Heaven The past is gone; the tu-
ture lies before thee. Gaze on the gorgeous
! sky-thy hOme should lie beyond ii
LiIe--honor-loye they pass to Him that
! gave them. P.id. that came 90 like ocean's
! b,iows-sec, round thee how it lies mute
and passive. The wealthy here are poor;
the high-born have no precedence tho
strong are powerless; the mean, content
the'iair and lovely have no followers.
Soldier she who sped thee on thy course
to-day, her blue eye shall seek thee in the
/ conquering ranks tomorrow; but they shall
seek thee in vain! Well thus it Is thou
sh"uldst have died with all to live for.
Wouldst thou be base to have thy death
blessing Proud necks snail mourn for
thee They that live, envy thee. Death
glory takes Thy sting.
The shades OF night are drawing on
Soldier, thine eyes are dsrkening. A last
rim of the sun lies yet upon the distant hill
--evcn as he SINKS, thy soul shall follow
him.
; See how thy steed feeds beside thee. His
dark eye falls on his master, and he psuses
Poor wretch! thine instinct aces some wrong
yet knows il not. Browse on and Heaven
: "
thee kind protector!
Warrior, sy-the stresm OF that rill iowa
cool; and thy lips no more shall taste it.
The moonlight that silyers its white foam
shall glitter on thy cors!et, when thine eye
? is closed and dim.
. Lo! now the night is coming the mist ia
, gathering on the hill the iox steals forth
to seek its quarry aud the gray ow, sweeps
, hurting by, rejoicing ir the stiffness. On
, snldier-hOw sweetly now sounds the lady.
lute-how fragrant are the dew spriukled
flowers that twine around the easement from
, which she leans That lutte shall enchaut
thee-those flowers shall delight thee-no
, more
One other charge Soldier, it may not be.
To thy saint and thy lady commend thee
, llark to the low trumpet that sounds the
, recall Hsrk 20 its long uote-sweet il
that sound in the ear Of the spent aud roGt-
4 cd foe
/ The victor hears il not, When the breath
, rose that blew that note, he hved-iIs peal
has rung and hia spirit hss departed.
Heath thou shoulis, be a soldiers pit
! low Moon let thy could light this night
t,li upon him. But, morning thy sott
deHs shall tempt hun n0t-the soldier
wakes no more. iis seepS IN the sleeps ot
houor His cause Waa hiI cnuRtryh freedom
, aud her faith. he !. dead The oInss Of
, the ChusIisn Knight 10 ou his breast Ina
I lip, s'e presses to his ladys token
,t9iIl,r farewell