Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-16
The Soldiers Reunion.
By REV. o. G. WHEELER.

l.tr thon, and with melting heart and te,r,
Struggling to pay loving tribute there
B-hs. & the veterans in their grand Review
q; wfs day oi brightness, and tue wind
Jus. sweet and cool enough 10 take tn. burn
i.l % the sun beams, famed their bearded ch.es
Beautiful was their esup the snOw-whir. tents
ras I'm 'vih sreen field, with here nd there tree
~. Ie 'a-tth them lay the broad bright lake
90 t.erag i se mOulten silver b-a-
Aa.ve a "a IN sweet tinted sky without
eloGd dTSstEesn the clear red, white and blue
10 whiteness-never was a sweeter niyhf
Ali there the soicers talked Of auld lang SINE.
Laugh n or weeping as the story ran
Along the mingled tides Of memory.
UT silent lay, and wondered Il twas true
That they were ever really engaged
Do wars red struggles and ever laid
ami listened to the Foemane st-althy sian
Beneath the canvas root, whence conrade rosa
90 at and lie. Sweet TRANQUIL silyerv nivb.
What ro0ps OF memories thronsed the peaceful
camp
How pleasant twas to see the brothers meet,
Ter mins years, aud parting Ia,t,
| p'n the bloody Held, or at the prison gates
uI sc.coins musterln- out. What tender GLOW
40. loving eyes what warm and lin serins .r,sp
%. hands surprise al uneA pected change
in u sc ard manner, aud the wear Of yeas
l-ai tnlnnea and unsed with irost ones shining
aud hoN tier meeting seemed to gather dim
shadows 1t .o>t but not forgotten on-s
ILrr e. Is spoke mis- without a word 10 tell
Their tuu Its, taat iOOks and pressure Of The hands
epeIs pialner tnan any words can speak
Command was gwen, and those men came forth
a, . tue voice they heard. was cloth d with newer
They dared not dis lOey as they were wont
20 90. wlcn Duty bade them hli the ranks
The 'ne-arnod idier led them and we smiled
600 see b IN Try TO season vita old words
90. stern authority his fond Commands.
i.e 'rivrei baca he ea ger sursn- crowds.
l.4f-t.'utls' but when he spUke those
i.c 4"v,d- a. unl. on- can love who shared
iIr t-tftul per-ls Of The battlefield,
E i.sg were tagging, gentle were his words
li-- 'A q az anl hail pett NJ was tue tone,
is .. a dot - "a lhcr 10 his boys.
aer looked Ike uen who had outworn all thou-ht
H Uar, IL common toll, and yet methouzht
.sw ID arcrs soldiers eye the memory sad
a. I4irn O. ln5adts aud the fearful field
.I.-le iA- ce4 blood she'd Of tause they loved
"-.4 whom tAsy let their sJrfowns .earnins
n..h @l.m ,hey marched and toilod and stornly
tua-At
@,b waon they Jay or watched the long grim
.Aey we're not gay, their step was firm. their
cad
Helv, as their hearts we're heavy 700.
sa.t.e lau- -hed, WIeue' 'eI the sympathetic crowd
Aere stilt.'- hi t.ie cannon's thunlerlus peal,
lH tt'a. PHp--un, heard amid the deep
$50 a"tu. memories % the battlefield.
Elra re.-.lll ~ Upheld the little na-,
...lr rod "a, oi Us uumneT, mining u
u- what ilr Av.n- anu the dead had done,
IT, save tle -;anc oii rauuer and is stars.
t.l--.s. iacu we've only brothers now.
Pace 1Aa re-a.g I'd distinctive marks, and AL.
A.sNl To lltAtt 10 lualt marched
b.. rv Gus -r4fe u gaze. But whence thuse tearss
AI. Ar tly cher shed Darling Is not here!
I- Nc4t w.ta these, but come not back again
li .- Yftc.lus -gaye WuuI @ Is ltf ahere q wAs e.
Nis .l end. 10 may be that ia this sweet air,
lll Hlatc whom men clll dead, are lowering,
iI.e.r g. uIuus fam NJ thine, and cumrade brow-.
ia.4 -l full e. tears. thine eye look teuderly
q .i .l these mtu, as . tley % were thine.
a -rty hatlgd m IA looked on without a smile
ll l.- Iluu- hls -,eIc al away ith the dead buy
-e a-- al, the dread tuuuaer-Dolt that crushed
I.- jos. ana ulde tie rest % lie 10 h.m,
DAD ya. ti.- ..r q .lu--u-ior death.
ste. .s.. srrr tlllu -htlgl, as Z some od dream
Nrrc Aau4 a. u, a4l We t.i,d TO marshal scenes
ll ..- rTrly tl1t u-ce absorbed Us So.
ana HlIsu Us -II or i4cuzird with despair.
It4r..- those lol- old ears o.. tears and blood
luu.l li be su1 were these Tue men Oi whom
Size tuuu-ut and .esd-.ur whom We -Aed and
plalei.
3 .Oi.-a- hreath.ess 90 the ceatAly click,
ID. .clt.u. tr e-raIa tAat wh.spe. ed Noe
. l glaay q treInu.u- near.' Are these the men
30. y4Um uur q. pcs were lyln5, these The iIru
N .. auly O. tu. -a4. or 10 ylc.uly,
I4r l4a- tIe worlds lone star o.. Liberty
Atr. ily-e au4 such as ,lese. thu. now they
A- the, ut 'tT were trained hut 10 the arts
t. peace. God bees tu, Braves, aud --u-ter Oft
q b.. A,aEoa Aas -4iIe.td aIl t..- e1Eraaes IA.