Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-01-21
BY rArHER RYAN.

put emotion by any capable OF approaching the ser
satior SO POLITICALLY SarannGk NeIcs an
Herald.
MEMORIAM.-D.
Thou art sleeping, brother, sleeping
In the lonely battle grave;
Shadows o'cr the path are creeping
Death, the Reaper, still is reaping-
Years swept and years are sweeping
Many a memory from my keeping,
But Pm waiting still and weeping
For my beautiful and brave.
When the battle songs were chanted,
And wars stirring tOcsin pealed;
By whose songs their heart was haunted
nd thy spirit, proved, undaunted,
Clamoured wildly-wildly painted
'.Mother let my wish be granted!
/ will meier be Knocked and taunted
That feared to meet our vauntcd
Foeman on the bloody tield.''
s.Thcy are thronging, Mother. thronging
To thousand fields of fame;
Let me go-'tis wrong and wronging
God and the to crush this longing;
On the muster roll OF glory,
In my country's future story,
On the field oil battle CORY,
must consecrate my name"
ssMother grid my sword around me;
Kiss thy soldier boy good bye.'
In her arms she wildly wound thee,
To thy birthIand's cause she bound thee,
With fond prayers and blessings crowned thee,
And she so 5bed-'whcn foes surround thee,
II YOU fall, know they found thee
Where the bravest love to die"
At the altar of their nation,
Stood that mother and her son;
He-the victim OF oblation,
Painting for his inmoiatiOn;
She in priestess' holy station
Weeping words of conservation
While God smiled his appreciation,
Blessed the boys self abnegatIon,
Cheered the mother's desolation
When the sacrifice was done.
Forth like many noble other
Went he whispering soft and low
GOOD byc-pray for me, my mother;
Sister, kiss me-farewell brOther;'
And he strovc his grief to smotbDr;
Forth with spirit proud and peerless
Forth, with footsteps firm and fearless
And his parting gaze was fearless,
Though his heart was lone and cherries,
Thus from all he loved to go.
Lo yon flag of freedom flashing
In the sunny Southern sky
Onto death and glory dashing-
On-where swords are clonging-clashing-
On-where balls are crushing-crashing-
On-'mid pcrils dread, appalling
On-thcy're ng-fnlling-falling-
On-they're growing fcwer-fewcr-
On-their hearts beat all the truer-
On on-on-no icar-no lalter-
On-though round the batte-altar,
There were wounded victims grooming
There were dying victims moaning
Outright ou-deaih-danger braving-
Warning. where their flag was waving,
And 6aptiSmGL blood was laving,
With tide of crimson water,
All that field of death and slaughter;
On-still on-the bloody Inrer
Made them brave and made them drawer,
On-with never halt or waver-
On-they'rc battling-bleeding-b
While the glorious shout is sounding
''We will win the day or de-
And they won -routed-rivcn,
ReeIcd the foemcn g proud array.
They had struggled long and strivcn,
Blood in torrents they had given,
But their ranks, dispersed and driven,
Fled disgracefully away.
Many a heart was lonely lying
There that would not thrOb gain;
Some were dead and some were dying;
Some were silent, some were signing;
Thus to Clie-lOne-unattendCd-
Unbewept and unbefriended-
On that bloody battle plain.
When the twilight, sadly, slowly
Wrapped its mantle o'er them all
O'er these thousands lying lowiy-
flushed il silence deep and holy
There one-his blood flowing.
And his last of life going
And his pulse faint-fainter beating
Told his hours were few and fleetng;
AND his brow grew whi'e and whittier,
And his eyes grew bright and brighter
= There he lay, like infant dreaming,
With his sword beside him cleaning;
For the hand in life that graspcd il,
True tc death-stil fondly clasped it,
There his comrades found him lying,
mid the heaps OF dead and dying;
And the sternest there bent weeping,
O'cr that lonely sleeper sleeping,
twas the midnight-stars shone round him
In shroud of glory bound him,
And they told US how they found him
Where the bravest love to fall
Where the woods like banners bending,
Dropped in glory and in gloom
There, when that sad night was ending,
And the faint, far dawn wasblending
With the stars now fast descending
Therc-they mute and mouruful bore him
With the stars and shadows o'er him
There-they laid him down, so tender,
And the next days sun and splendor
Flashed upon my brothers tomb.