The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-23

rtary 20, 1859.
BY G. HERBERT sAss, ESQ.
No masque of antique mummery is mere,
No ocareless, registering, pleasureioVn8cre",
No revel making jubilsut the air,
The long night-wstches through
Not with glad sarb and festival array,
Nor rapture of the feast. nor laugh. ner song,
But with hushed heart we keep our holiday,
AS men whose faith is strong -
Strong to endure. to tarry, to obey,
AND in mute patience to possess our souls,
Until the Angel from our lives away
The cumbering earth wight rolls.
Not giddy mirth befts us who enclose
Within our souls q m emory and VOW
Whose hearts are busy with the thoue hts OF those
Who we're and are not now
Within whose ears still fingers the faint roar
Of distant cannon, and the humpet-call,
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 to-day;
To that far hope, which all our life enfolos,
As loyal we as they.
Their's-amid trumpet blare and roll OF drum,
And shock of charging ioes to win their peace,
TIL the long turough to the soldier come'
And the stern warfare cease.
onrs-to sheatl now the sword they drew in vain,
To guard their honor, who 10 1or % ours died.
To keep forever holy from all stain
The homes Death purified.
~
] saw visiou-from the CULTS of sleep
Strange shapes rose up and spectral shadows grew
And wars red billous seemed to Eurge and sweep
Forever in my view.
saw city's streets alive with men,
saw the tossing banners take the air;
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 Natures perfect calm,
There ran the shudder OF fiery breath,
And brave souls foated on that awful psalm,
Out to the sea ofdeath.
Over their heads bent down the tossing grain.
And the pure violets looked in grave surprise,
And white feld-lilie> yelled before the slain,
The splendor of their eyes.
saw tattered banner rise and f1l;
saw little band 60 calmly on;
saw the red waves sweep above them all,
And the long rest was won!
Yes, won for them, though still for US the hard
Tempestuous journey mock our weary eyes,
Which tarry still the iufnite reward
The hope pain sanctihes.
Furled is the flg the trumpet sounds no more,
The sanctity Of failure irds us round,
Whose pilgrim steps upon their native shore,
Fall as on aiien 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 steldfast love that works Away;
Nor waste on future fascies far and fond,
The strength God gives to-day.
Content to do its Masters work below.
While yet the light is on the daily task;
Nor seeks with restless discontent to know
The meaning OF the mask.
saw three fg1res walk along road.
And two looked up with rapt and soint-ike gaze,
Eyes which through earth-m!sts ever turned to God,
Lips which Tor aye did praise
The path grew rough; the trailing briars caught
: At the white robes. and tore the tender feet;
Yet paused they Eot serene as those who sought
Far of the golden street.
And said "Surely, mighty Is that Hope,
Tha. Faith divine i"-and turned 10 look for her
Who rod with patient Steps the barren slope
toils!ained wayfarer.
The path was roush-she made nc lamentaton,
But wrought TO make it smoother for the rest,
And generation after generation
Rose up, and called her blest.
And then heard: And now abideth Faith.
Aad Hooe and Charity. and shall not fall;
But yet is Charity, the Spirit snth,
The greatestof th-m ALL