Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-06-20
A Widows soliloquy.


Once had happy home. Once | was
loved wife. The morn and the noon and the
night came, and with each came a kiss Of
love-a strong arm-a strong heart fresh
blossom from the buds of hope. The birds
sang in the trees-the rivulet went laughing
on its way-the grass nodded to grain and
the grain nodded back to the grass-the
flowers climbed up the lattice as my children
! clambered up into my lap or romped with
their father as he rolled on the floor in play
with pets after the work of the day was done
for him.
And / sang as / worked And was hap
by in my loves and my hopes We labored
and prospered. The fields grew in size
our home became more beautiful-Iny boys
grew to be young men and my heart swelled
with pride asI looked upon the home and
loved ones.
We earned more than was required to
support us-the cattle lowed in the pastures
the horses stamped in the stables-the
chickens chased each other in the yard-our
cellar and pantry were full-there was grain
in the barn, and strong hands to gather
more.
The fife and tie druml
To save the Union Our flag was insulted
Our country was in danger Our liberties
were in peril Oh merciful GoD, how my
heart rebelled against the unnatural strife
l listened to glib tOngues-l was told by spe-
cious pleaders that the Union was IN danger
it was pounded into my brain from the
pulpit-it was prayed into me by so-called
man of GOD-I was educated to hate those
who had never harmed me or mine-I grew
wild and helped buckle the sword upon my
husband S side, and filed the knapsack for
my son.
The bo,.riI fife and drum,
Men with glib tongues said the men must
go-but the men with glib tongues went not
| The fife and drum drowned the song of the
birds. The long lines of blue tramped by
huzzas rent the Army husband, whose
arms had in love encircled me my son,
whose life was my life, went forth to preserUe
the Union!
10 lcept!
In the stiffness of my room wept and
prayed. My pillow was wet with tears-ny
heart grew sad-the dust seemed like powder
the days were so long the nights were
so full Of horrid dreams.
The HO1Tjd fife and drum
They drowned the song of my birds-they
made my heart wild.
The lightning seemed like flashes of bay
onets The thunder was but the echo of
bursting shells The hollow wind was the
groaning of those who were dear to me-who
were stolen from my arms to PreSerUe tie
Union
7 prGyedi
But my minister was off in the army, or at
the hustings.
Iacept!
But tears would not still my aching heart
/ asked those who enticed my loved ones
away-bUt they were too busy counting
money to answer me
Gonel
| Deadi
! Alone!
! l knew it / dreamed it The newscome
| but never a husband-never a son One
| died ina hospital, with no one to care for him.
/ Nv husband, whose lips so oft were pressed
| to mine-whose heart had been so close to
mine. lHy husband who knew me and who
| | knew so well-he died where my arms
could not enfold him-where my kiss could
not give him new Efe-where my hand could
not smooth back the hair from his forehead
oh, the horid fife and drum
! And my son He died-he was killed on
the battle field. A bursting shell tore his
| head open, that head / so often petted and
looked upon with pride. 1t tore away the
1 lips l had often kissed And he fell on the
| sod-he lay so still in death, side by side
]
who were not our natural enemies And the
! iron-shOd foot of cavalry horse went crash
/ ing through the heart of my dead boy, as
he lay dead on that bloody field That heart
which held my image-that heart which was
lost to me forever
On, GoDl
How l wept-and prayed 1 gave them
to my country. They were sent forth by me
| helped prepare them for the sacrifce-I
heard the horrid fife and drum-they said
my country called-I believed and sent them
forth And they said twas well-that they
died to preSerUe the URion!
Now they tell me the Union IS not pre-
serced! Then why was [ robbed of my
treasures? The ones who wanted my loved
ones to go are still here-but they say the
WAR t. l1reserve the Union was failure
am but a woman--I know not much of pol
! itics-but / know | am widow-that my
loved ones are gone that my heart is dark
with sorrow-that the tax-gatherer is taking
all that we earned before the war-that
am called upon to pay taxes, expenses and
even interest money TO support the bond
holders who were enriched by the blood Of
my loved ones, and to hear night and morn
! ing the echo of the horid fife and drum.
! and to ask myself and others what we. what
YOU or [ have gained by giving our loved
ones to the sacrifice which we are told divid-
ed. instead of restored the Union?
I am poor widow do not understand
! politics but | want some one to tell me what
/ have gained, and why | must bear all the
taxation as | have borne the sorrow?-La
| Crosse Democrat.
YOU'VE AMERICA WONDERS. Wonder
! why mamma keeps Bridget home from church
| to vvo,E oil dav and then saws If Is wick eCisto
| build nay rabbit house on Sunday?
Wonder why our minister bought that
pretty cane with the yellow lion 5 head on
the top, and then asks me for my cent to
put in the missionary box? Don't | want a
i iewsharn inst as well as he wanted a cane