Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-06-13
died for duty.

dured the prlvatlons OF solitary life IN the
frontier forests of North America to
learn the habits and natures OF American
birds and, though his voice is hushed in
the chill of the grave, the night-birds
by the lonely dashings Of the Oregon
chant his name in tho darkness of the
woods and the wild eagle screams his
praise in the unfathomable depths of the
upper sky.
Philosophy owes her proudest laurels to
the devotion of Fichte and Scheliiug and
Hegel aud DesCarte. Painting and
sculpture worships at the shrines Of
Angelic and Raphael and Music breathes
the names Of Mozart and Beethoven with
a tremulous swell Of delight.
An these are great and their names
are imperishable as the everlasting hills
yet there are some whom we rank with
these 10 greatness
Oh God they lie scattered, all over
our sunny land
Some sleep IN the quiet church-yards
on the hills where the morning sun first
kisses the dew. some beneath the
shadowy pines and some by the washing
of the rivers.
Napoleon and Wellington entranced
the world with the magic of their names
yet the humblest confederate sleeping
there has higher and nObler record Gu
the books OF Heavens Recording Augel
Napoleon flashed like meteor and
went down, the memory of Boys in Gray
shall not sink in darkness but like the
morning star rise higher and grow
brighter unto the perfect dag.
Grecan legends tell US that upon the
eve Ct the battle of Marathon the shadowy
hosts of the slain arise and the passer-by
hears the sound of the viswless hosts as
they form in line and hold their mid
night review upon the plains .here last
| they fought.
And Moorish legends tell US that up
on the eve of St. Johns as the traveller
wanders beneath those old battlements
and beellng towers near Grenada he sees
Moslem images arise from the moulder-
ing remnants Of their pristine glory.
The phantom army Of Boabdil streams
down from the mysterious mountain
cavern in guided array as of yore, revislts
the scene of Its former splendor and pays
its annual tribute to the enchanted
throne.
And future legends will tell how on
the eve of Manassas and Richmond and
the Wilderness the shadowy hosts of
those who fought with Lee and died With
Jackson shall rise and hold their still
review, each yeac, until that time shall
come as come it must when justice shall
shake off her slumbers and the avenging
Arm of God shall be not stayed.
They died, bus their memory can not
fade.
We speak of them as men--as soldiers
but there are many who cannot forget
that they were SONS, and many who know
that when their soldier fell asleep
amid the roar of battle, a boyish heart
was stjled aud they should miss the
music of loved ones step forever.
We sorrow for them but not as they
who have no hope, for we feel-we know
that in the providence of that "God who
heareth the young ravens when they cry
they have not died in vain
"They fell devoted but undying,
The very gale their names seems signing,
Their spirit wraps the dusky mountain,
Their memory sparkles DER the fountain.
The meanest rin, the mightiest river
Rolls mingling with tleir fame forever
No "cloud capped towers" lift their
lofty heads to their memory, no costly
monumental pile is blazoned with their
deeds
The record of their fame is written 10
the writing ofthe rife-pits and trenches
on our plains and ridges and their monu-
ments are the hills which echoed with
the thunder Of their cannon.
No sculptured mausoleum tells the
touching story of a nations grief.
"Thsir requiem is the morning breeze,
Their tribute is the falling leaves
4 peoples silent tear
And what filter tribute can We offer to
their memory than flowers; so pure, so
fragrant they seem The choicest gift the
hand of affection can bring.
There is purity for their untarnished
record, rich colors for their glorious tri-
umphs and fragrance for their bal lowed
memories that cling around their histo-
rY.
.sFor this through its leaves hath the
white rose burst,
For this in the woods was the violet
nursed."
And who shall lay upon the shrine this
offering of a Nations love? What filter
hands than those which bucklcd on the
soldiers sword and through all his weary
days o trial upheld him with the uatiring
strength of woman's love? History tells
us of deeds done by Roman and Spartan
women but the brave endurance of the
South and the deep devotion lavished up
on 1.-The cause" shine as stars in the crown |
of their glorious record.
The blood which Redeemed the plains
of orr battle fields was mingled in the
sight oft the God of Battles with the sa-
cred drops wrung from the hearts of moth
ers and wives.
1.-THE the mother who conceals her grief
While to her breast her son shs presses |
She breathes q few brave wor's and BRIEF |
Kissing the patriot brow she blesses,
With 10 one, but her loving God,
To know the pain that weighs upon he,
Sheds holy blood as e,er the sod
Received on Freedoms field of honor
Then let the women of the South bring
flowers and strew them on the graves OF
our Fallen Braves. The tribute of love.
liness, and heroisn, to bravery and duty.
Let them
. Gather the old with locks silver>sprinkled |
Gather the youths with brows care unwrin |