The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-06-27
A widows SOliIOquy.

tremble iu bodyJie. How cold tho world
isl There is no suD, no hope, for my lifo
lies buried beneath the sod of warmer
country than this 0hce 1 had happy
home. Once Il was allowed wife. The
morn and the noon, the night came, and
with each came kiss of love--a strong
arm--a strong heart, fresh blossom from
the buds Of hope. A JThe birds sang 10 the
trees--the risnletsweht laughing on its
way--the grass nodded to grain md the
grain nodded back to the grass-thc flow.
ers climbed up the lattice as my children
clambered up into my lap or r,mped with
their father as he rolled on the floor in
play with bis pets after the work Of the
day was done for him. So
And L sang as l worked. And l was
happy in my loves and my hopes. We
labored and prospered. The fields grew
in size our hume became more beauti.
ful-my boys grow to be men and my
heart swellsd with pride as looked upon
the home and loved ones. =
We,earned more than was required to
support us--the cattle lowed in the pas.
tures-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 gsther more.
|. .rs's ~ arr*i ~ -
The fJsand tie drum I! t
To save the Union Our hag was in
suited Our ,ountry vas in daDger?-
Our liberties were in peril! Oh merei.
fd COP, / ow my heart rebeled against
the unnatural strife l listened to glib
tongues-I was told by specious 7leaders
that the Union was in danger--it wal
pounded into my brain from the pulpit
it was prayed into me by so called man
oe GOD-J was educated to Kate thoss
who had never harmed me nor NINE
grew wild and helped buckle the sword
upon mybusband's side, and filled the
knapsack for my son.
| The horrid fife and drunl
Men With glib tongues said the men
must go--but the men with glib tongue:
went not aus
The Gfe and drum drowned the song
of the birds The long lines of blue
trampcd by-huzzas rent the Army
husband, whose head so often had beer
pillowed on my breast whose arms had
in love encireled me- my son, whose lift
vas my fe, went forth to preserve III
Union. @
| / mrpt! .4
In the stiffness Of my room wept ant
prayed. My pillow was wet with tears
my heart grew sad-the Gust seemed likt
powder tho days were 80 loDg-the
nights were SO foil of horrid dreams.
| 7he horrid fife and drum!
They drowned the song of my birds =
they made my heart Wild
The lightning seemed like flashes o
bayouets The thunder was but the ech,
of bursting shells ! The hollow wind wa
the groauiug of those who were dear Il
me-who were stolen from my arms t.
pres0vs the Union /!
**
| Iprdyed
But my minister was of 10 the army
or at he hustings.
! Irept! ..-....-.
But tears would not still my achin.
heart T Gtu.'F Fltr-f .,
| l asked those who enticed my love,
ones away--but they were TOO busy count
ing out money to answer me
Gone!
Dsad!1T Ea g. laNaa u'r
/, Alone . 'I3'a- #. H.,.
. knew il! dreamed il The new
come, but never husbaud-uever son
One died in the hospital, with no one t
, care for him. My husband, whose lip
SO oft were pressed to u.ine-whosc hear
had been 90 close to mine. My kmban,
who knew me and who | knew SO we'll
he died where my arms could not enfoIt
: bim-wherp my kiss could not give lin
new life-where my hand could no
smootho back the hair from his forehead
J. Oh, the borrid fife anil drant!
And my son He died-he was kille'
on tho battle 6eld.i A bursting shel
tore his head open, that head 1 70 oftel
} petted and looked upon with pride.
tore away the lips l so often kissed. An
he fell on the sOd-he lay so still i
death, side by side, with the ones wa
taughtto hate the ones who were no
| our natural enemies i And the iron sho
foot of cavalry horsp went cru hing tn
heart of my dead boy, as he lay dead o
that, bloody field 4 That heart whic
held my image--that heart which va
lost to me forever. ii u
- ~ -
!, On, ,GoDl a.fiss,s So
How l wept-and prayed l CAV
them to my country. They were sen
, forth by mel helped prepare them fC
the sacriHce-l saw them go-I hear,
the horrid fife andldrum-they said m
country oalled--I believed and sent then
forth, And they said twas we'll tha
they died toproser"e he Union !
Now they tell mo the Onion is not prC
servedt Then why was l robbed of m
tressures2 The zones lwho wanted m
loved ones to 50 arc stilllhers-but the
say the WAR to pseserue tho Uuio
was failure. am but q woman
, know not much Of politics - but
know L am q widow--that my loved oae
are gono-tbat my heart is dark wit
+ sorrow--that the tax gathercr is takin
all We earned beforalthe war-that I AT