American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-07
", PENN'A, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST
THE EMPTY SLEEVE


I'want no pity, ask no aims
Give me some work for this one hand
The other, meath the Southern palms,
Ii rotting in the shifting sand.
left home, a child, awife,
AS dear to me as yours 10 you,
And freely offered up my life.
To aid cause knew was true;
And so, my friends, with your good leave,
Fopity for this empty sleeve.
could not rest in idle ease.
And hear of fiery deeds each dayi
Although she, weeping, clasped my knees
And eai nest plead that might stay,
'IDear he art 1 said, "wth steel and ball
Beneath the banner of the free
I'll take my chance, for should II fall,
What would home be to me
Without the flag whose sacred dyes
Are pictured in Gods lovely skes"
Begrimed by smoke and torn by she'll,
But each star standing In its place,
More holy for the hearts that fell
To shield 1t from disgrace;
1t waves In glory once again.
As In the bright ol d days before
Its honored folds received tie stain
OF kindred blood at Baltimore
Ere that old emblem sunk, believe,
I'D wish shroud TO wrap this sleeve.
When the keen saw rasped through the bone,
From my pale lips there burst cry;
Twas not the singing Of the pain alone
That caused that moan of agony 1:
But thoughts of home smote on my brain
Good reason had TO deplore-
For gainst two hands the wolf will gain
Oft times seat at Labor's door;
How should then their wants rel ieve--
soldier with an empty sleeYei
"Nay, don't despair take courage, lad,
The busy surgeon kindly said /;
''Be sure to lose an arm Is bad,
But better tits than lose your head
Why, all oui tongues love well to wag
OF colOred sergeant Richard Todd,
Whose arm was first TO plant our flag
Above grim Sagner5 smoking sod;
Think # the glory, man. don't grisve,
You are doubly paid for the empty sleeve"
But glory will not fll tho 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,
And gaining nought but cold replies;
At night see her turn away
To hide the tears that fill her eyes,
And almost wish death might relieve
My pain, as l toy with the empty sleeve.
Daily are places filed by those
Who cursed the cause for which blod-
Two years ago our deadlest foes,
Now the public bounty fed.
Must we who breasted rebel steel,
And bore Old Glory through the land,
NOW ask OF passeTs by meal,
AFFECT aud humble, hat in handl
Republic. can you thus disgrace
The hearts that held you in your placei
Does It not tell Of hnrdships passed.
The useless swinging sleeve of mine
Dad marches in December's blast,
In peting rain and shines
OF cory fields and ghastly slain,
Whose faces make the senses reel,
And MANNED when shrieking ia their pain,
Where laundering squadrons charge and wheel
Whose fierce hOofed steeds, in the wild strife,
Crushed out the little left of life.
OF midnight vigils 1t doth tell,
In bearded forests meath the stars,
Where through the bonghs the moonlight fell
Upon the earth In silver bars
OF hospitels where groa"ing rows
OF stricken men draw painful breath.
And prison doors that darkly close
On horrors tenfold worse than death;
Think thsn, will beggaTs' arms relieve
The bearing of this empty slesysf
For what Is past yet can say,
cherish not one vain regret;
Do not, then, make me curse the day
My old blue coat with blood was wet
Spare me your pity, If you please,
And give mo work for this ono hand;
The other, meath the green palm trees,
Isrottng on the shifting sand;
o. grand Republic, give me leave
To prordly Haunt this empty sleeve.