Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-31

Inc absence in this poem of the name Of H. W.
richardson, editor OF the Portland Advertiser.
points unmistakably to the authorship, and Is char.
acteristic of the modesty of that excellent gentle
man and scholar.-ED.1 HeW asssss
What this the class of Fiity.three,
These bearded, grizzled bald old fellowst
by Jovei there's some mistake see -
Here, waiter, step this way and tell us
What upper chamber of this inn
Is full of laughter, song and noise,
And how missed that cheerful din
And stumbled on these grave old boysi tf
The boys of Fifty.three were gay,-
Their veins with warm blood used to tingle;
thought to meet with them O.day
Ana hear once more the glasses jingle, .s3s
applaud again some well worn Joke
Float on the tide of boisterous fun
And see their faces through the smoke 4
Shine jocund like the rising sun,
Where are those merry lads tonight?
miss their honest, hearty greeting;
rms pleasant room is warm and light
But this is some directors meeting.
The waiter shakes his head,-not So.
lie says,-tut, tut it cannot be
lis too absurd a story,-no,
Ihey' re not the boys of Fifty. .thiee
know these solemn faces, too;
That veteran yonder-his names Piaisted--
wore at Fair Oaks the army blue;
Attorney General now ior Maine
Congressman by and by perhaps;
1oOd work still pays and not in vain
lie Won and wore bis shoulder-straps
That's Colonel Davis, wounded twice
In I've years service, reckless rooster,
FOR rash exposure paid the price,
But none the worse now he's from Worcester.
lhere's Doctor Stratton Of Saint Jo,
cavalry surgeon in his day;
His life's smooth stream, unvexed and slow
In Michigan now runs away.
That portly parson once KNEW
Alfredus Owen, reverendus,
Divinitatis Doctor, too,
Lives at Detroit; may Heaven send us
At need as merciful a Judge,
friend at court as true and pious
To save us from the awful smudge
That rises from the neither fires.
And there's another reverend face
Thats Bullen, deep in Geist and German,
Studied with Tholuck; takes his pace
And gallops through his weekly sermon,
Sure-footed over all the bogs
Or modern science, safe to dry land
Not to be scared by barking dogs
He's from Pawtucket in Rhode Island.
Here's still another Doctor, Pierce,
Doctor of Laws, ct semper felix
Catching the wind howe'er it veers,
All mere fair-weather sailors he licks;
Blow high or low, he holds his course, isEz
His sails all draw - ready talker
Full OF shrewd wit and fire and force,
Audacious, plausible, New Yorker.
That's Baldwin, sitting over there,
Keen fellow, Cincinnati lawyer;
Heres Speaker Bartlett Of Eau Claire,
Wisconsin wolverine top-sawyer;
Here's Thurston, from Chicago halls
Since here at homo he slipped his hawser;
Under brokers' charter sails 'ff
Was deacon once honoris causa.
What's that? Iheard or thought heard
sound of smothered ghostIy laughter:
half believe, upon my word,
l've found the boys l came here after.
Behind these wagging boards they hide,
Under these brown and wrinkled masks
Come forth, old cronies, fairly spied,
And drink three toasts your comrade asks.
All up In silence first we drink
To Plumer's name. Dear Shade, we stand
And reach across the misty brink
Of StyX TO clasp your pallid hand.
Then to the absent, far or near,
We pour a bumper full and free;
And last we drain cup Of cheer
For all the boys of Fifty three.