The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-08-16

life was but the dewy blossoming.
Living tor love and sacrifice is the
heritage of woman. There il no diz
zy peak OF joy, nor farthest flight OF
wild, ambitious dreami <, her yearn-
ing love, her winged faith and aspira
ti0ns will not dare, for his dear sake
who claims her fond allegiance and
her worship. But for him her dreams
her faiths, her aspirations are all
kingly. And to her there opens nc
subEmer field Of battle than the arena
of mans heart And therein her in.
nate tenderness, her exquisite purity,
her iIlimitabIe powers Of loving, and
self gbnegation, like steadfast angels
strong TO battle the evil with the good,
war nobly with mans unsanctifed
passions, and win silent victory.
Crowned with her perfect love,
robed with the spotless minivcr and
r yal purple Of chiya!rous virtues and
exalted hcrosm-grand attributes
wherewith her partial fancy and en-
during faith endow him--sceptered
with sublime dominion over her light
est will, he reigns in her loyal soul
with undisputed sway king of the ra-
diant FairyIand of her impassioned
dreams-Lord and higb-priest in the
white temple Of her thoughts
Curl not your bearded lips in Scorn
Of her gentle teachings, oh ye strong,
dark men--ye demigpds Of labor! ye,
with thews and sinews of steel,
mighty in war and triumph ye.
whose masterful right arm tolls at
tho fore of Science, or drives the
shining plough-hare of Knowledge
and Discovery through fields Of fu
ture harvest. Ye, who laugh at sore
defeat and battling hate, and with set
lips and grim, defiant will, grapple
The hydra Of opposing circumstance,
and wiring y hard won victory from
the niggard hands Of Fate All'yOur
fireheads, be they grim with sweat
and labor, or royal " 18th the flush Of
conquered bays, are holy with the
kiss Of womanh0Od
With TIE deep, spiritual eyes that
one day shall see God, look inward /!
! he sacred kiss your mother left mp
on your baby-brow when first you
saw the light and drew in with the
first faint inspiration the soul that
cannot die-that kiss amcng the
bright memorials of God is cherished
still, Il solemn seal set on your immOr-
tality Her tender blessing, whis-
pered lov on earth, but audible in
Heaven, clinga to you still, strong
shield Of protection in life's unpausing
battle. Wrestle nobly with the en-.
shaving world, WELD a good sword
with an unhinching courage, for
truths and Justices Sake--but keep
your mothers blessing and her kiss
(tho lips that gave them are under
the snow perhaps)-as sacredly invi
olate as the Archangel keeps the
broad seal Of the universe!
And whilAthe ftful sunset radiance
dies, and the cool gray silence Of the
twilight falls around us, the phantom
faces brighten for q moment, then
fail and fade, and ;hon resolve them
selves into a sadder twiIight-the
memory of lost but unforgotten
things
Aud so, because our hearts arc ten
der with remembrance, and thrilling
vet TO the touch of their vanished
hands and the tones of their dim.
heard whispers, we open our secret
caskets and gaze, through mist Of
tears, upon tho reliques they have
left us. Here u ring, worn to thread
of gold there, II picture, the shadow
Of faded loveliRess; and this is a
flower she wOre-nnd this the rosy
ribbon that bound her yellowish hair
Her yellow hair. Tawny as Topaz
wine-the priceless Vim D'or-that
hides for a hundred years its shifting,
go den fires deep in the sombre hush
and gloom of cavernous vaults and
arches under the dark foundations of
some grim and moudering feudal cas-
tie; gathering the ardOr and perfumes
If a Eundrcd bushing summers, till,
in its glowing heart, their sunshine
and their ripeness, transmitted by
strange alchemy, become a sweet
aroma, whose raro spirit haunts the
empty cup when the jewellers are for
gotten.
lifl it to my lips, tho shining web
of softness. Instinct with a strange
vitality, whose touch is almost hu-
man, it clinps about my trembling
hands, and drops in ring and coil,
with sullry shadows, aud glints OF
red barbaric Z I'D.
And this; shadowy fragrance
subtle, elusive ~ the first faint sigh
OF Spring through piney wOods-ex
hales from it's silken gloss--this braid
of deud-brown gold. A vision, Of a
pale young face, with solemn, spiritu.
al gray eyes, and tremulous red
mouth, rises out the silence Of the
room, and smiles on mo with gentle,
serious sweetness then slowly fades,
a. with reyorent hand / lay II soft
IA, ht.