American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-04-17
Memorial Day.

Memorld way,
There il a tear Tor all who die.
A mourner DER the hnmh'ed grave;
but nations swell the funeral cry.
And Triumph wecps above the brave
On the Goth inst, fair women
throughout the South will deck the
graves of the brave men who fought
ami fell'in their defense with bcauti
garlan,ls,of fresh spring flowers in
weeping remembrance Of their gal
liant deeds performed OH many a
bloody field of sacrifice for a cause
now lost-for a country now degrad-
ed-fOr principles now deserted-and
for banner now furlcd forever.
Four sad and weary years have now
elapsed since the morning sunbeams
last kissed the silken Colds of the
Bonnie Blue Flag, on the banks Of
the Rio Grande four times have the
wailing winds Of autumn chanted
natures moaning requiem through
4Eolian harps of the forcst-trees; the
storms of four bleak winters have
howled the lonely dirge of the Lost
Cause" four times has spring put
forth its green leaves and bright
buds to symbolic the dead soldiers
resurrection and the fifth s.H1ier
draws on apace, with its golden
fruits and sunny flowers, fit emblems
of the crown of glory which awaits
the humblest follower of the econ
Quered banner" and the cross of
Christ. 1t is meet then TINT woman
the angel Of mercy" first at the
cross, and last at the sepulchre =
should pay the last sad tribute of
affection tn those whom we have
"loved and lost" and leave token
of remembrance or the graves of
those Who will never again 60 forth
to battle in the strength Of man
hoods might and they should not
forget to lift prayer on high for
those who sleep in lowly mounds all
over the country, from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande, from Susquehan-
mas fertile banks to the moutl, of the
nrcAfC sta. Many au unpretcndinS
board marks the last resting place
of one who bore as knightly soul
as any whose name isblazoned with
heraldic insignia OH the shield of
Plantagenet, Bourbon or BayaIT
Many maiden will bless the hand
of her who has left a simple wreath
on the grave of him for whose com
ing she has watched in vain; many a
mother will remember in her evening
Orlsons the far distant one who has
crowned with a garland Of sweet
wild flowers the turf that wraps the
clay of him whom she called son, but
the sight of whom will never again
gladden. her heart; many gray
haired sire will half forget his sorrow
and rejoice that his sunny haired boy
who died a stranger in distant land
is not unwept or unhonored, but thai
fair hands will leave a wreathe o
immortelies on the narrow mound that
tells the passer-by, Here lies one who
gave to the South his duty and hi,
life.
The grave of the Confederate sol
der, however humble in appear
ance, is hallowed spot, and he whC
fell in noble, honorable combat, need
no proud temple to lift its heat
among the nOwcapped mountains
10 tell to futurity the story of hin
who fought fairly and in good faith
for all that men deem most worth,
of devotion /; for, whether it be foun,
in the silent city," amid the la.
bivouack of hundreds of his con
rades, or on the sunny hillside, o
beside the murmuring brook, or il
the quiet meadows where the modes
yiolets bloom, fair form will ben
above each sacred hillock, sweet lip
will whisper prayers for him VIII
sleeps beneath, and delicate hand
will drop the unfdding wreath O
never dying affection upon cac
form now now stilled in death an
other men and other times will tax
mp the holy custom and transmit i
down to coming generations, whet
those who are now the mouIners
will I've mourned, and the weepcrs {
the present will be wept.