Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-07-19
FROM the New York Citizen.
TIE EMPTY SGEEVC.

I want no pity, ask no aims
Give mo some work for this one hand
The other, meath the Southern palms,
Il rotting in the shifting sand,
I left u home, q child, a wife,
A dear 10 me as yours 10 you,
And freely offered up my life,
To aid q cause knew was true;
And 50 my friend, with your good leave
No pity for this empty sleeve.
could not rest in idle case,
And hear Of fiery dccds each day;
Although she, weeping, clasped my kneef,
And earnest plead that mi sht stay,
Dear heart" / said, " with steel and ball,
Beneath the banner Of the free
Ill take my chance, for should il fall,
What would DO home 70 me
Withou, the flag whose sacred dyes
Are pictured in q G.d's lovely skies z"
Begrimed by smoke and torn by she'll,
But each star standing in its place,
More holy for the hearts that fell
To shield it from disgrace;
Il waves in glory once again,
A. in the bright old day. before
It's honOred folds received the stain
OF kindred blood at Baltimore
Ere that old emblem sunk, believe,
I'd wish shroud to wrap this sleeve.
whe the keen saw rasped throsgh the bone
Prom my pale lips there burst q cry;
Twas not the singing pain alone
That caused that moan Of agony;
But thoughts Of home smots on my brain
Good reason had to deplore
For 'gainst two hands the wolf will gain
Oft times . seat At Labor door;
H ow should then their wants relieve
A soldier with an empty sleeve,
Nay, don't despair. take courage, lad"
The busy surgeon kindly said;
De sure, 70 lose arm is bad.
But better 'tis than lose your head;
Why, all our tongues love we'll to wag
OF color sergeant Richard Todd,
Whose arm was first to pant our flag
Above grim Wagners smoking sod:
Think Of the glory. man, don't grieve,
You are doubly paid for the empty sleeve
But glory will not fill the hands
Of those who wait At home for bread,
Upon our hearth . spectre stands,
That fills our hearts with dread,
Seeking for work day after day,
Aud gaining naught brt cold replies;
At night see her turn away
To hide the tears that fill her eyes,
And almost wish death night relieve
Ny pain, as toy with the empty sleeve.
Daily are places filled by those
Who cursed the cause for which bled-
Two years ago cur deadliest foes,
Now on the public bounty fed.
Must We who breasted rebel steel,
And bore "old Glory" through the land,
Now ask Of passers>by a meal,
Abject and humble, hat in hand?
Republic, can you thus disgrace
The hearts that held you in you- place?
Does Il not tell Of hardships passed
This useless swinging sleeve Of mine?
Dead marches in Decembers hlast,
In peiting rain and shine;
OF gerry fields and ghastiy slain,
whose faces make the senses reel,
And MANNED men shrieking in thcir pain,
Who're the laundering squadrons charge an
wheel;
Whose force -hoofed stceds, in the wild strife,
rushed out tho little left Of life.
OF midnight vigils it doth tell,
In bearded forests meath the stars,
Whore through the boughs the moonlight fell
Upon the earth in silver bars
OF hospitals where groaning rows
or stricken men draw painful breath,
And prison doors that darkly close
On horrors tenfold worse than death;
Think, then will besgars arms relieve
The bearing Of this empty sleeve'
For what is past yet can say.
cherish not one vain regret;
Do not then make me curse the the day
Ny old blue coat with blood was wet;
Spare me your pity if you please,
And give me work for this one hand,
The other meath the green palm tress,
Is rotting on the shifting sand;
o, grand Republic, give me leave
To proudly aaunt this empty sleeve;