Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-31
atnion aud smerieam.
LINES ON THE DEATH OF THE REV.
DIR. 5. ID. BALDWIN.
BY -. aREEN. D. D.


Advocate We find the following graphic and touch
inE. yet simple and unadorned poem to the mem
DRY Of iholate Rev. DR.. BALDWIN. 1t is a tribute
Of friendship intimate and personal. eemented
by the ties Of christian brotherhood. and to wide
circle Of readers who know and admire the au-
thor. and mourn with him for the death Of his
gifted friend it cannot fail to be deeply interest
ing;
The wing Of death was Ger the city spread.
And anxiOusy the hearts Of thousands shrobbed
While some had fed as Lot, and left the plains
In which. Of old, devoted sodom stood.
Others remained, but not without their fears,
For twas no common foe that might be met
With glitterinR sword, and spear. and shield.
The smile, the merry laugh Of gladdened hearts,
Like injured friends, were seen and heard no
The bench. the box. the bar. was leif alone,
The pris 'ner 10 his gloomy cell returned,
And ltiEation's dusty hall was closed,
While strangely quiet grew the mRTket-plaee
re businessman. with measured step, and slow,
IN silent mood went TO his place Of trade;
And cautiously he oped his sulen door,
As though the foe in hidden recess dwelt;
And now with match or flaming taper lit
To drive il forth he disinfecting burned.
But thnugts and feeling were all kindred now,
And fell in line like soldiers under drill;
And every man by sad impulses knew
The thoughts and feelings Of bis neighbOrs heart.
But some there were whose business twas TO see
The sick, and such as friendless were,
Who lay within the moster's deadly grasp.
The man Of prayer and minister Of God:
These with tae gloomy, slowly moving hearse,
And such as 10 The grave went with their dead
And those who bore prescriptions 70 the sick.
Mainly make up the signs Of life without.
Thus passed the long, the sad, the weary days.
Alright tho pestilence m violence grew;
Men were afraid 10 sleep lest they should wake
And find themselves within its deadly grasp.
Protesting nostrums on each mantle stood,
And fires were kindled on the summer hearth,
And lighted lamps and je:s were left to burn
Throughout the dark and lonely hours OF nights.
And prayers were whispered by mpractieed
Buf fbert was one who was well known to all
By his devotion 70 the SICK and poor;
Nightly tho ring Of old Mckendrees bell
Brought out the anxious multitudes 10 prayer,
And scores lid at the sacred altar bow,
Ana prayed, and wept, and made their peace with
This faithful gatchman stood on lions walls
And long ard loud the gospel trumpet blew,
Complaining not until his strength gave way;
But still the sick. the poor. his presence claimed
And consolation such as comes alone
From promises In Gods most holy word
And for their God alone he overdrew
Upon bis time. hisrest, his health his strength.
The fell destroyer's power az length was stayed,
The sick were mostly conVaiescent now,
And men began 20 feel the worst was passed
Aud now il was this faithful man Of God
Was heard 10 say the calls on NE are lew:
The sufferers now, he said, are lessenlng fast
1 hope and trust that shall rest tonight;
Attic appointed time he thanked his God
And laid him down upon his bed 70 rest.
But ere the rosy dawn he woke and found
The dark-winEed angels wings were DER him
Hefelt he deadly damps. and he was sick
The faithful minister Of God was sick,
From lip 10 lip the sad news passed along,
And ere the day grew old this truth was known
Throughout the Church, and lar beyond u new
For all that knew him loved him aTdcntly,
Aud few there were 10 whom he was not known.
Physicians % his side in haste repaired,
And thought with care he soon would be relieved.
This was the holy Sabbath Of the Lord,
The church-bel! loudly rang as It was won't
me faifb6Ii sbepberd ,iid not meet his flock
They hoped and prayed that ne might soon DC
well;
The Church and all his friends grew anxious now,
And as one heart the common feeling shared
UBcalled physicians quickly came, and went
Aad tarred long beside the good mans bed
While in the mart, and all along the streets,
Each man you met with deepest interest asked,
How stands the case with our loved preacher
now
The growing interest reached the city's heart
And orders came that no disturbing wheels
Should by his dwelling pass, that he might rest
While softly those within. with Unshod feet
Passed gently through his room and round his
bed;
While those who gifted are with power to heal,
Each symptom watched with unnbatng care, ID
His tongue bis skin. his breathing, and his pulse,
Aud warmed his blood with artificial heat
And scathing bhsters drew; but AL IN vain.
The foe was now intrenched, and had the range,
And could not be by human power dislOdged
Zen faithful prayer was unavailing now;
Death was the sick mans wish, and God decree!
Twas said at length his strength Is giving way,
His skin il growing cold, his breathing short,
Ills weak and struggling pulse more family boats,
While the chilled blood is stealing round the
In circuits constantly diminishing.
Now fastened TO his side long-tred friend,
70 whom for years he had united been
BY ties which naught but Christian friendship
Aud boSi1s down beside the sick mans bed.
They thus together talked and wegt and prayed.
The man OF God then oped his balmy eyes,
Inclined has head, and recognition gave,
Aud TO the question: Dost thou suiler nngh1
.HOw Is the inner man. tn Immortal soqlY'
With heavenly SMILE In perfect health, he said;
"A, All al IS right IN that aep93rtmhe a nov
by day and night with moro than brothers care,
Softened his lips with few drops Of wine
To give him strength and aid his feeble speech.
When This was done be almly spoke these words
I'm drink Il in my Fathers kingdom now Oh.
The fulness Of that promise Is unknown"
And then we prayed that God would safely lead
His faithful servant through the vale Of Death.
A silence now ensued-the sick man lay
With eyes intent on objects seen by none,
Save those whom God hath blessed with gifted
A friend Il en- asked. How are thy thoughts en-
'FxpaRndi9 1S elories of the future state
Are full in view, /" he said; Il see them now!'
His eyes now calmly closed, he spake no more.
Then every sense was shut on earthly things
And opened on his mansion in the skyi
ne now was standing on the howery mount
That overlooked the land Of Beulah and the
scenes beyond
The throne Of God, the pilgrims final home.
Twas here he met God agels from above,
And heard his Saviour call, Up mgherl come
lie dropped the sickle from his trembling hand,
And gathered mr. his numerous sheaves,
And with the vicior's shout upon his tongue,
lie passed beyolsa the everlasting hills
And only lon his shattered tent behind:
Rat still we have his dust-it sleeps beside
The dearly loved companion ot his youth.
They were united while they h9ed on earth,
And not divided are they now m deHth