The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-07-11
Poem Delivered at Joliet, ILL.,, May 80,
1871.
From the Poem on Decoration Day, at Joliet
Illinois, by EGBERr PHELPS.

From the Poem on Decoration Day, at Joliet
Illinois, by EGBERr PHELPS.
Here softly tread with reyerent feet
Oer the graves Of the departed,
While we pay our tribute meet
10 the heroes, lion-hearted,
Who, in that sublmest day
Of our countrys song and story,
In the fierce and deadly fray
Wrote the record other glory.
Honored be each lowly mound
ALI that Past's sad record keeping;
For the spot is hallowed ground
Where the patriots form is sleeping.
Choicest tributes hither bring
of the springtimes glowing beauty,
Emblems of the flowers that spring
Ever from the grave Of duty.
Wreath the oak-leaf with the bay,
Lilies with the palm leaf twning,
Amaranth with the ivey spray,
Nasturtums mid the violets shinging:
While the yew tree and the palm,
With the weeping willow blending,
Toll Of Victories sounding psalm
Zen from mourning hearts ascending:
Quivering aspen-asphodel,
With the elm and laurel wreathing.
vi the notes of sorrow tell,
Through the patriots glory breathing;
ANA the purpil orchis' bloom
On the feathery cypress lying,
Types of Beauty and the tomb
VI the Living and the Dying,
Sweeten Sorrows bitter cup,
Telling of the wondrous beauty
Of the young lives offered up
On the glowing shrine of duty.
These the wreaths we fondly strew
In token Of a nations mourning,
While tears Of gratitude bedew
The flowers our dead ones graves adjoining
Our Dead, ah no, not ours the names
By the noblest sacrifice exalted:
The graves are Freedmens now and Fame's.
Where these our heroes steps have halted
These are the nations Dead, and we'll
May we, their green graves fondly tending
Thus honor those who nobly fell
Columbas battlements defending.
All other dead, however DEAR
In time shall pass from Memory's keepine.
While brighter glow, from year to year,
The heroes names in glory sleeping
While HstoIy's storied annals tell
How fought Columbia's hosts united,
When blood was poured and heroes fell
To quench the torch by treason lighted.
And when the years have feeted by,
And we are gone, to dust returning,
Our childrens children still shall vie
With us in this our country's mourning;
And year by year fresh garlands twine
Of Flora's trea sures bright and blooming,
To deck each lowly, hallowed shrine
The soldiers honored dust entombing:
While fathers bid their children keep
The memory ever fresh and glowing
Of those who sowed that they might reap
And perished in the gifts bestowng
Soldiers sleep! the clang Of battle
Never more shall greet thine ear.
Cannons boom nor musket's rattle
Shall disturb thy slumber here
Sounds of earth, or oceans billow
Never more shall bid thee wake,
Though above thy lonely pillow
Storms may beat and tempests break
Ger the sod thy form enclosing
Grateful tears shall fitly flow,
All nations grief exposing
For the dead of long ago
While the tempest blast of Glory
Blending with the Victor's hymn.
Oft shall tell the wondrous story
Of the deeds no time shall dim
Though the graves cold depths enfold thee,
Thou hast won the victors wreath;
In our heart of hearts we hold thee
Sainted by noble death.
angels never sleeping,
Ever watchful vigil keeping
Ger the record thou hast made.
Peaceful sleep in dreamless sumber
Meath the flowers that o or thee wave
While our blessings without number
Rest upon thy lonely grave
And when, all our life-dreams perishei,
We in turn have passad away
May our memories be cherished
As we cherish thine to-day;
And our records CLEAN as brightly,
Pure as thine and wondrous fair,
Free from spot or stain unsightly,
Guarded with as jealous care