The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-06-21
THE VOICE OF THE siLESCE.

- i'sAu i"i tne falfiot Soldiers OF the Arm
ihe potomac, Read at the Reunion, June 6. Is
Bright on the sparkling sward this day
ms youthful summer gleames:
The roses in the south wind play.
The slumbcrous woodland dreams,
In golden light, meath clouds Of fleece
MID biri-songs wild and free,
The blue Potomac Row in peace
Down u the peaceful sen.
Neecho from the stormy past
Alarms the placid vale.
Nor cannon roar, nor trumpet blast,
Nor shattered soldier wall.
There's nothing let TO mark the strife,
/ The triumph or the paia,
Where Nature to her general life
Takes back our lives again.
/ Yet In your vision evermore,
liencath aiirighted skies,
With crash OF sound with rock ol gore.
The martial pageDts rise.
Aadaeious pageants rend the air,
Dark Stceds Of battle neigh
Aud frantic through the sulphurous glare.
Raves On the crimson fray.
Not time nor chance nor change can drown
Your memories proud and high,
Norpluek your stars Of greatness down
From glorys deathless sky.
For eyermore your fame shall bide-
Your yalor tried and true.
And that which makes your country's pride
May well be prize to you.
Forever through the soldiers thought
The soldiers life returns
Or where the .rampled fields are fought,
Or where the camp fre burns
For him the p0mp OF morsing brings
A thrill none else can know,
For him Night waves her sable wings
Ore many nameless woe.
How often face TO face with death,
In stern suspensehe stood,
While bird AMI insect held their breath
Within the amnushed wood.
Again he sees the silent hills,
With dangers menance grim,
And darkly all the shuddering rills
Run red with blood for him.
For him the cruel sun Of noon
Glares on bristling plain.
For him the cold disdalnul moon
Lights meadows rough with slain.
There's death in every sight no sees.
In every sound he hears,
And sunset hush and evening breeze
Are sad with prisoned tears.
Again worn out in midnight march,
Ia. sinks hesi,ie the track,
Again beneath. the plying arch
His dreams Of home come back;
In morning wind the roses shake
Around his cottage door,
And little feet Of children make
Their music on the floor.
Tie tones that nevermore on earth
Can bid his pulses leap
Ring ont again in careless mirth
Across the wales of sleep;
And where in horrent spIendor roll
The waves of yict'ry's tide.
The cherished comrades ofhis soul
Are glorious at bis side.
Forget the arm may lose its might.
The tired heart beat low,
The sun from Heaven blot out his light,
The west wind cease to blow,
Bun while one spark of life is warm
Within this mould of clay,
HE soul shall revel in the storm
OF that tremendous day.
t,n mountain slope, IN lonely glen,
BY Fate's supreme command,
The blood Of those devoted men
Has sanctiied this land.
The funeral moss-but not in grief
Waves o'cr their Iallowed rest,
And not in grief the laurel leaf
Drops on the hcros breast.
Tears Cor the living, when Gods gilt
? Ttsssrs~-a-' Of man 70 i,e--
Wastes, like the shattered spars that driH
Upon the unknown sea-
Tears for the wreck that sinks at last,
Noneed Of valor done.
But no tears for the soul that past
When honor's fight was won.
He takes the hand Of Heavenly Fate,
Who lives and dies for truth :
For him the holy angels wait
In realms of endless.youth'
The grass upon his grave is green
With everlasting bloom;
And love and blessings make the sheen
OF glory round his tomb.
Mourn not Tor them. the loved ami gone;
The cause they died 10 save
Plants an eternal corner stone
Upon the martyrs grave;
And. safe from all the Ills we pass,
Their sleep IS sweet aad low,
Meath rcquiems Of the murmerng grass,
And direes Of the snow.
That sunset waits its holiest kiss
Through evenings gathering shades,
That beauty breaks the heart with bliss
The hour before it fades.
That music seems to merge with heaven
Just when its echo dies,
Isnatures sacred promise given
Uf life beyond the skies.
Mourn not, In life and death they teach
This thought.-.his truth-sublime
There's no man free except he reach
Beyond the verge Of time!
So, beckoning up the starry slope,
They bii our souls 10 live,
And iioading all the world With hope,
Have taught usto forgive.
No soldier spuns fallen foe :
No hate OF human kind
Can darken down the generous glow
That fires the patriot mind
Hut love shall make the vanqlished strong
Aud mercy Iie their ban,
-, ,,.. -, 90, "a l,cnI a WFpnu
Nor mau be slave to man.
So from their quiet graves they speak,
So speaks that quiet scene,
Where row the violets blossom meek
And all the helds are green.
There wool and stream and flower AMI bui
A pure content declare,
And where the voice of war was heard
Is hearl the voice of prayer.
Once more in perfect love, @ Lord,
our alicned hearts unite!
And clasp across the broken sword
The hands that used to smite
And since beside Potomae's wave
There's nothing left but peace,
BE allied at last the open grave,
And let the sorrow cease
Sweet from the plying Northern pines
Their loving whisper flows,
And sweetly where the orange shines
The palm tree woos the rose;
And let that tender music nun
Ger al the years 10 he.
And Thy great blessing make us one
Ana make us one with Thee.