Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-12-18
The MEMPHIS APPEAL


THE following poem, which originally ap-
peared IN the HRusnrutea Reos, published in
Richmond during the war, has been going the
rounds Of the press, as an pHodue-
ton. Itwas written by Capt n. I. stanton. Of
the Confederate army, and rs one Of the most
beautiful ana touching poems In the English
language:l
FALLEN.
The iron voice from yonder spire has hushed its
And midnight dnds me lying here, in. silsnee
and alone
The sIil moon through my window sheds It's
VITA n melancholy psleness l have never seen
before.
And the summer Wind comes to me with lis
sad H0lian lay.
Asi II buTtne9ed with the sorrows of a weary,
weary day;
Yet the moonlight caunst soothe me Of the
sickness here within,
And the sad wind takes ne portion from my
bOsom's weight Of sin,
Yet my heart and all its pulses seem so quietly
70 rest,
That / scarcely feel them beating in my arms
And these rounded limbs are resting now 50
still upon the bed, 1HH
Tat one would think. to see me here. t.atI
was lying dead.
What II ,lwefe so9 What III died-dird as
with something like To virtues calm u,5on this
marble brown
What Il died to.night? Al now ras sloth.
ful heart begins 70 beatl
A fallen wretch Ike me, 70 pass from earth so
sadly sweet!
Yet am l cslm-as calm as clouds that slowly
float and form,
To give heir fearful strength to some Implying
summer storm;
As calm Is -greats4hara, ere the simeon sweeps
its waste,
Or as the wide sea, ere the white waves all its
GhnWEE have NgnlN
SIN, still 1 have no tears 20 shed; these eyelids
have no store
The fountain once within me is a fountain now
no more.
The moon alone weepsf for me row. the pale and
thoughtful moon:
She weepS Tor dying Mary, through all the
night's swset noon.
What IL died e night, within these giIdsd,
Upon whose crimsont rappings no eyeof virtue
ever faIlsS
What would its s%ouiless inmates do when they
had found me hers,
cold for passions tear?
Ohl one would come and from these arms IN
clasp the bauhle bandsf
Another wrench the Jewels or my ~fairer,
This splendid robe another's form would grace.
OIL long before
The moonlight came ag4in to sleep upon the
HOOr!
And when they laid me down in earth where
pauper graves are made.
Beneath no bending willows angel-hauntea
shade,
Whoa come andpIant a aowe Ter poor Marv's
friendless grave.
Or trim the tangled Wild grass that no suurner
wind could waveg
Who d ruse a sfone 70 mark il from lhe ruder
graves around,
That the passing strangers footsteps might
respect the spot OF ground?
No stone would stand above me, no title
No hand would plant a dover Ger a fallen
What II 1 died tonight? And when to-mor-
ROY sun had crept
Where late the softer moon in virgin beauty
slept,
They'd come and hud me here! on! who
would weep to see me dead2
Who'd bend The knee Of sorrow by the p~ulseless
wantOns bed
There's one would come-my mother God
bless the angel band
That bore her, ere her daughter fell. to Wonder
quiet land.
Thank God Iur all the anthems that the glad
dened angels sung
When my mother went to Heaven, and I was
pure and young.
there's another, too, would come-a man,
Ny shame has wrought the winter snow to rest
80 heavy now
Yes, he would come, with manhUOd'S tears ali
burning down his cheek
had reasons kingdom stronger been where
virtue grew 50 weak. I
Ny sisters and my brothers all, thank God! are
FAR away;
never know how died the one who
mingled in their play
never know how wretchedly their
daring sister died
The one who smiled whene'or they smiled, who
cried Whene'er they cried.
I'M all alone tonight How strange it is that
Ishouid be aIonei
This splendid chamber seems to want some
rOUes WOnted tOuei
Yon souless mirror, with lis smooth ana all
unYarnIshed face, 4
sees not tne-e jeWelGd arms to-night in their
uuchaste embrace.
Oh! 1 have fed the fever Of that heated,
crowded hail.,
might claim the richest and the gayest
of them all
I could smile upon them With that easy,
Which suudnes the blood of virtue that would
struggle in my faCel
But 1 hate them ali. 1 scorn them. as they
scOrn ne on the street;
could spurn way the pressure that my lips so
Ouen meeti
could trample on the lucre that their passion
For they've robbed me OF a heritage Of greater
rice JnRn thelrs- !
They can never give me back again what I
have thrown away -
The brightest jewel woman wears throughout
The brightest and the onIy one, that from the
cluster Tiven,
MUS bua lOLENHA Mbn4AAh AtaLN 4AUn All lis z
hopes of Heaven.
What If [ died tonight? What II [ died as I
arm lying here?
many a green leaf withers ere the
autumn comes TO scar!
here many q uew-drOp shaken down ere yet
the sunshine cam,
md II any a spark hath died before il Weakened
into fame!
What III died tonight, and left these wretched
bonds 81 clay,
o seek beyond ths hollow sphere a brighter,
better day2
What ii my soul passed out and sought that
haven OF the blest,
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and
the weary are at rest?'
You'd angels call me from above, and beckon
me 70 come
md join them in their holy songs in that
eternal home
You'd they clasp their hands in gladnessw when
they saw my sOulEet ITGe,
md pOintbesidem my mother 20 a place reserved
Tor me?
Would they meet me as a sister, as one of
precious worth.
Who had won a plaCeinHeayea by her holmes
on earthe
u, God! I would not have my soul ia 30 out
upon the air.
With all its weight OF wretchedneSs, tn wander
where 9-OU. Wlare9