Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-30


Since was wrought the cruel chsnge,
And the grapes OF peace lett bleeding,
That were puIpling in the grange
Since the bsnn. rs were uplifted,
And the battle trumpets blown;
AND the sheaves of anguish gathered,
+ ON the seeds of error sown.
All, behold the change at Arlington
Though not the world around;
sui OF old these oaks are royal,
And the knobs with yerdure crowned.
But there's change In yonder mansion,
Late tie home of high degree,
For the hand Of war has humbled
The chiyalTic caste of Lee.
10 the gloom of retrlbution
Rests upon Il like pail,
AM the meme meme tcLsl
Is the writing on the wall.
flushed the voice in solemn silence
OF the sepulchTe OF aye,
For the mighty stone that seals il
VIII be never rolled away.
Here the orchard was, and meadow.
AND the walks, aud winding drives,
And the sweet perfume OF clover,
Ana the subtitle scent OF hives
And the vineyard with the vintage,
And its prophecy of wine;
Ard the Overcoming harder
From the snow white gifts of kline.
Here, wee0, he off went strolling
To and fro athwart the glade,
A his children gambOled round him
Through the tangled sun and shade.
While he heard the gush of laughter
And their behbling silver words,
The winds meodiOus music,
And the minstrelsy of birds.
All! the bounty hand was lavish
IL its rich abundance sent,
TIL his heart las oyeT-hrimming
With Its tUllness of content.
UntIl pampsred pride no longer
Could it, arrogance conceal,
And began To veN the leaven
That was hidden in the meal.
But, ala! to err is human,
And remOTSe is sims reward,
So he grit his armoT on him
and unSheatheG his cleaning sword
Yea. essayed to cleave asunder
Then the web his f3th ATS wOve,
And to oyer.dash the tisgon
Filld with cordial-wine OF love.
But the stOry-Why repeat it
Here ttIs dear Memorial morn:
This, the sweetest day 20 sorrow
That was e'tT 10 sorrow born.
Sill We seem 10 hear the drummers
Beat across TIE bridge of years
Beat the tunes that moved a nation
And enrolled the volunteers
Sweet "The Gates OF Ediuboro2
And The March of Gilderoy''
And The Girl | LCf' Behind Me-
And The Valiant Soldier Boy"
Then mother brought her orphan
With tear and parting kiss,
And All Abraham his Isaac
To atone and sacrifice.
While from lions fold the shepherd
Chose the iirstiings Of his lambs,
And there s2nCtifed and gave them
As a widow gives her AIMS.
And the p:cuEhman and the pruneT
A. the village srIInv Ia It,
And the share btcs"'a a slbeT
And the hook Oayvnet.
Then the Mason heard She summons
From the keNsJne VI the arch,
Ano dropped hIs line and plummer
And took NJ his line or march.
Ave- tic plOwman stopped and hqrkensd,
Jhen uDglTt MS hdrHes-ed team,
Aud the sNeman quit the forest
Leaving half unheWn the beam.
Ard the mower paused ard pondered-
lie so young and ledl aud 1.-the
A he tapped martial ditty
With his milestone on the scythe:
While to ether hands the miller
Left bis mill and toll to keep,
And the reaper gave tie sickle
Into younger hands to reap.
And the raker and the binder
Joined the troop and marched Afr,
For the harvest must be gathered
In the scarlet fields Of war.
OH those ranks, those ranks so val!ana,
Ever beautiful and grand;
Oh! perfect fruit of wOmanhood,
Dearly loved of all the land.
Scarce fash OF time between US
Since their muster-ro1 was long,
And their camping grounds were NOISY
With the role OF mirth and song.
THEN, anon, we heard the tumult
And the tLunders of the fight,
AS the noises of tempest
When approaching in its might;
Saw the ughtnings of the cannon
Pulse stiame the battle cloud,
As its muTky fOldings brOoded
Ger the death scene like shrou1.
And the charging of the squadrons
TO the blaring bugle sound,
While all nature seemed ashudder
And aqUake the solid ground.
Then the fearful crash of muskets
And the hall of grape and shell.
And the Kissing and the seething,
As the lurid glare OF He'll,
Till the foeman's valor yielded
And was broken ike staff,
And his beaten hosts were scattered
Oh! then, the weary watching
For the coming OF the maIi,
By an anxious hearted father
and "a mother old and fTail.
Oh! the watching and the waiting
OF a sister at the gate,
From the blush of sweet Aurora
To the dusk of evening late.
And the sweetheart for her lover
Sitting longing, for she knew
He weuld die TO save his coIocs
For he wore the Union blue.
All! the waiting and the watching
And the longing and the fears
Oh! the anguish and the wailing
And the agony OF tears.
Scarce doorpost was besprinkled
AS the Hebrews were of old,
With a kids blood and the hyssop
Whereby Egypt's doom was told.
That the sable midnight angel,
Passing thither mig ht resrain,
And leave the house undsrkened
And the eldest born unslain.
Yet sweet nature in remembrance
OF the darkness sorrow brings,
Is sure TO send the morning
With the healing OF his wings.
And alternate spring and summer,
With the clover bloom anu birds,
Came TO WOO away our grieving.
as "a nuns conso.ing words,
And this, to-day, is Arlington,
These the solemn tents of death;
Thol Oh 1 often pause aud listen,
L can never catch a breath.
And never hear football,
Nor murmur nor sigh,
Nor peal Of jocund laughter,
And 1 muse and wonder why.
For the years are brief between us
Since their muster roll was long;
When their camping grounds were noisy
With the role of mirth and song.