The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-23
by @. aKRBERr BASS, ESQ.

by G. aamBERr BASS, ESQ.
No masqqe Of antique munmery s snsirs mere, crew
No Careless roystering peasureiovlnS crew.
No revel, making jubilaut the air,
The long night watches through'
Not with glad garb and festival array,
Nor RAPTURE Of the feast nor laugh 1ass NOR song
AS men whose faith ts strong -
Strong to endure. to tarry. to obey,
And in mute patience to possess our souls,
Until the Angel from our lives away
The cumberng earth weight rolls.
Net giddy mirth BELTS us who enclose
Within our souls m emory and vow
Whose hearts are busy with the thoughts of those
Who were and are not now
Within whose ears still fingers the faint roar
of distant cannon, and the trumpetcal,
Sounding their knel who never any more
Shall SIT in banquet hall.
For us, indeed, loftier purpose holds,
who keep with curbed soul our tryst today;
TO that far hope. which all our life enfolds,
As loyal we as they.
Iheir's- amid trumpet blare and roll Of drum,
And shook of charging ioes to win their peace,
TIL the long turlough to the soldier come,
And the stern warfare cease.
,Ours-to sheatl now the sword they drew in vain,
To guard their honor, who for ours died,
To keep forever holy from all stain
The homes Death purified.
X
j saw vsion-from the CULTS of sleep
Strange shapes rose up and spectral shadows grew,
And wars red billows seemed to surge and sweep
Forever in my view
saw citye streets alive with men,
saw the tossing banners take the airs
The tramp Of martial feet grew loud-and then
heard mothers prayer.
And onward through the mist looked, and saw
green field royal with the nodding grain
And over all deep and solemn awe,
hush, as If Of pain.
And sudden through fair Nature g perfect calm,
There s, ran oti3e the shuddcr OF fiery breath
Out to the ofdeath.
Over their heads bent down the tossing grain.
And the pure violets looked in grave surprise,
And white feld-lilies yelled before the slain,
The splendor of their eyes.
saw tettercd banner rise and fall:
saw little band go calmly on;
j saw the red waves sweep above them all,
AND the long rest was won!
Yes. & won for them, though still for us the hard
Iempestuous journey mock our weary eyes,
Which tarry still the Infinite reward
The hope pain sanctifies.
Furled is the Fl ,R the trumpet sounds no more
The sanctity of failure irds us round,
Whose pilgrim steps upon their native shore
Fai as on alien ground.
Yet may we find some work He would have DONE
Whose own good time our souls IN patience wait
some feeble hand to help. which all alone
Must battle with Its fate.
For higher than the hope which looks beyond
Is the calm, stend ndfast love that works alway;
Nor waste on future fancies far and fond,
The strength God gives to-day.
Content to do it's Masters work below.
While yet the light is on the daily task;
Nor seeks with restless dlscontent to know
The meaning OF the mask.
saw three figures walk along q road
And two looked up with rapt and saint-like gaze
Eyes which through earth-mists ever turned to God
Lips which for aye did praise.
The path grew rough; the trailing briars caught
At the white robes, and tore the tender feet;
Yetpaused they not, serene those who sought
Far of the golden street.
And said "SureIy mighty is that Hope
That Faith divine l''-and turned to look for her
Who trod with patient Steps the barren slope
toil-stained wayfarer.
The path was rough-she made no lam entation,
Bnt wrought to make 1t smoother for the rest,
And generation after generation
Rose up, and called her best.
And then heard: And now abideth Faith,
And HOPE and Charity aud shall not fall;
But yetis Chari y, the spirit nth,
The greatest of them all.