Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-09
The Commcmoratlon ro.Day.
SPREAD Ff,owRRs

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SPREAD FLOWERS.
Bring flowers to lay. upon the graves
Otloved ones-nObIe. true and tried
Is Their names lie upon the hearts
vi those for whom they early died.
cave garlands. bright to spread above
The mounds where Christian heroes Sleep
AZ memory tWines its wreaths Of love
Round names DER which we proudly weepi
Round names Ger which We proudly weep
Meath mounds marked only by the waving
Lie countless ones. who. dying. left no names
Yet. still we weep for them, their deeds. thei7
fameg.
Bring flowers, It's said they are Gods smiles,
With sight Of which all earth IS blest;
What spot more fit to place them then.
Than DER the sleeping patriots breast
Then lay them gently on the sod
Made sacred by the form il keeps,
And let tears blend with smiles Of God
On graves DER which nation Weeps.
His Smiles our tear, blended upon their graves
One mOurns as lost that which the other saves; |
Here cur tears tell our heart nndying love, |
His smiles fill them with purest joys above.
Brig flowers to deck these lonely graves,
Nhere scattered leaves lie thickly strUwu,
The brown slabs crumbling ct their hesds,
Bear but the single word, unknown"
Place flowers there, the brightest, fairest,
The bud-those in the flash Of bloom,
Pluck for such graves the richest. rerest.
Law Sress9 sen thereon t ne sweet
The purest, truest love the soul imparts.
For those whose names the world will never
know,
But DER whose graves flames iairest flowers will
blow.
Bring flowers place crosses at their feet,
Long since were theirs laid down;
These wreaths? Obi place them nj their heads.
Each patriot brow hath won crown.
Thus ever let these emblems blow.
Their crosses at their feet at last
While bright crowns. resting on each brow.
Atone for all the dismal past.
Bright loBersl how sweet the thought. that
Your perfume lingering floats toward the sky:
Tins. though the Christians form to earth be
He lives in deeds which ever point to Heaven.
Bring flowers for all the silent homes,
Whose tenants quiet sleeping lie,
And garnish each, both high and low,
Ger which was ever breathed q sigh.
Yes. deck them friends, lovers, foes
Let passions end where graves begin,
For Ger each mound some sad heart throws
veil, which covers every sin.
Bring flowers. tear-bathed. and on each hillOek
Let not mans erring hand distinctions trace
For Gods smiles calmly rest, alike, on all,
As on the living His great mercies fall
nv bOhCAAh eho OCoullAuA Vi
cOmmemoration to take place to-day over
the last resting places of heroes in The
cause Of the South will speak as in a single
breath Of past struggles, of present peace,
Of sad memories, and of that heartfelt
homage which virtue and truth always
render as tribute to nobility of character.
Whatever may be the verdict of impartial
history as to the purpose or origin Of the
war in which these noble lives were offered
up, the muses. of coming time will weave
garlands Of roses brighter and more en-
during than those to-day scattered by fair
hands over soldiers graves, commemora-
Ting their deeds and immortalizing their
names in the affections Of the Southern
people.
There is a gratifying pleasure in THERE
Election that in the sacred mission of to-day,
there will not mingIe any feeling Of par
tisan envy or political hatred. As our
people gather in the narrow streets Of the
noble dead, TO pay deserved homage TO
the lofty heroism which characterized
their lives and smbalms their memories,
there will be no room for any sentiment
but gratitude and love for those over whose
| graves they scatter smiling flowers and
grateful tears. The day, the place, and
the occasion are alike sacred, and will ever
be 30 regarded in the hearts Of this people.
We should revere the memory of the
dead heroes of the Lost Cause, and the &C.
c&sion is fitting TO call forth every token
| of love for those who were near and dear
to US. Those whose hearts have been made
desOlate by the misfOrtunes Of war, will be
comforted with the thought that blessings
still blossom like roses over the graves o.
our dead; and that the heroic deeds OF
the mighty fallen Of our own and sister
States are still fresh and green in the
| memory of us all.
Strew flowers Ger their graves, let us weep for
their fall.
| Though they left u as slaves in bondage and
thrail;
And this time each year. as We homer the
dead,
Let US place wreaths of glory on each hero's
head.
| Had they lived. oh what glory would blen7
with their name.
| They have died, but. thank God, it was mo
death of shame"
And we that are living must guard Wal their
graves.
Lest pOsterity brand us as traitors and knaves
| For We said we all loved the cause they de
Tended,
Aud when it was lost. how Our heart-strings il
| rended"
Let US hope, let us pray. that their souls are al
rest,
For they were our beloved. our bravest, Oul
best.
Il