Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-15

At fue dollars per AMMAN.
Transient advertisements inserted at ST. 90 per
square, (eight lines or less) for first insertion,
and twenty-five cents for each subsequent in
sertion.
AN ODE.
At the reinterment Of the remains of the Con-
tederate dead in Grace Church Cemetery, near
Washington, on Friday last, an account of
which appeared in the Gazette, Bishop Pinck
ncy delivered the following ode:
With measured step We to the spot repair,
Where we our honored dust would lay to rest.
A tear we drop upon the soft, fresh sod
While skies above us do their tents unfold,
And winters chilling blast is on the air,
Aud scarce bird doth trill its matin-song,
Or soothe to rest the tranquil hour of eve;
And yet we would garland throw of flowers
Upon the graves we dig in silence here,
And draw a satisfaction sweet indeed
From act of love paid to the sleeping dead.
lis true we do not know the name of those
We would this day and hour commemorate,
Yet 10 the depths Of ocean lay the pearls,
Not seen to mortal eve, deep hidden there;
And to the page Of history unknown
Are heroes who, within another sphere,
Will take their place. the brightest of tsse
throng.
These fell unnoted mid the cauuon's roar
Beneath the flag they did so bravely wave
Regardless of the perils of the field;
And when they fell, no mothers hand was
near,
Nor sisters loved, nor brothers loved as they,
The death dew-drop from the paid brow to
wipe,
Or whisper in the ear sweet words of love-
Or speak of home, the dear ancestral Hall,
Or river on whose flower -enameed banks
They woke the echoes of their gleeful step,
Or noble oak beneath whose quiet shade
They dreamed those dreams of farer days
ahead,
Which they would never more on earth be-
hold
And yet the weepers on the hearthstone wepss
Whose tears still oger by the vacant seat,
To tell the scene Of desolation there,
Sadness now regns, where once the smile OF
Threw Ger the heart it's own magnetic spell.
You met the fate soldier does not dread,
The death upon the dark, ensangulned field,
When at the drum beat, or the bugle's note,
His gallant step moves quickly to the front,
Subhmely bent to conquer or to die.
Your great commanders have the call obeysdr
And now, like you, they sleep beneath the sod.
The one, among the foremost OF the foremost
men,
In all the ages of the mighty past,
Whose name will gather beauty, as on air
1t floats O 'er earth, or Ger the azure sea,
Wei! nigh alone in its sublimity.
Symmetrical IN form, as pure as brave,
Lee had mind of vast and varied powe.sr
While not dew drop in its lily cup
Was fresher than the heart that burned within;
ADD not tear-drop, but the emblem was
Of the deep sympathy he felt for all.
1t may be questioned whether strength or love
In him was the controlling principle
One thing we know, he was in all thiogs great
In each estate of sunshine or of shade,
When on the topmost wave OF great success.
Or in the valley of adversely,
lie was self:poised, the same meak man Of
faith.
The other, like thunderbolt of war;
Resstless in its course, as rapid too,
Remains the marvel of this martial age.
His name can never die-a long as Tell
Shall live to thrill the ages in their flow,
So long will Jackson live, the one bright stsr,
TO shed its burning luster nigh and far,
No more the deatening sound Of cannoa's
roar
Disturbes the silence of this peaceful hour
The war is ended, and we, who now repair
TO drop tear upon our washed bier,
Aud feel the kindliug of the patriot fame,
That finds its emblem 10 the star.llt iag
That waves alike Ger graves where rests
awhile
The Northerp soldier and Confederate brave.
Death cousecrates this hour. 1t soothes the
heart,
And bushes into calm repose the feuds
That mar this carkng, troublous world of ours
1t bids us weave bright links upon the chain
We would entwine around the brotherhood,
And dew disti from hearts that banded ares |;
Of kindly charity and noble deeds.
Sleep on, ye gallant brave, the night-winds =
sigh,
As they Ger you sad refrain send forth
And when the singing birds come back IN /
spring
They will pour forth their song in sweet accord,
And now and then some comrade will repair |
To this sweet spot, your vaor to recount,
And keep your deeds embalmed in memory.
We feel the touch of sorrows hallowed hand, !
And as we throw the dust upon your graves, 4
And sigh to think that we are lett alone,
We would the grace invoke for each and all
10 bring the noble ship our fathers built
10 her firm mooriDg by the mighty Rock
\ ship that stood above the beating waves,
% Independence day, and the grander era.
When from the masthead there waved
banner,
All set with stars, in folds of deepest blue,
The pledge of union and equality,
To hush the passions of this aeeting hour.
And sooth to rest the pertubatious of the soul, /
And rise victorious o er our weaker SELF
Is wse-'tis beautiful, and fair, and true,
And now. our prayer for each and all, who
stand
Beside the newly-opened graves to-day,
Is, that We, each, may this selEaouquest gain,
And live together in sweet harmony