The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-08-12
IN MEMORIAM /:

10 following lines, says the Savannah (GA-) Hslss,
written by Father Abram J. Ryan, in memory
brother wlo fell fighting in the war for Southern
s.sEdsnce. Never has q fond mothers nobility OF
when struggling with love and duty, thone forth
!, resplendent than hers of whom our cypress
ned poet" speaks in the fifth stanza. And never
fsaternal affection been embalmed in language mole
ltifuly sad than in the opening of this sublim
n AS We read the plaintive words We fancied
werO addressed rot 30 much to the ears Of the
" as to the spirit of the fallen one who sleeps in
lonely battle grave" The man who can read this
lout emotion ought not to be envied:
Thou art sleeping, brother. sleeping
In thy lonely battle grave;
Shadows Der the past are creeping
Death, the Reaper, still is reaping-
Years have swept and years aye sweepipg,
Many memory from my keeping,
But I'm waiting still and weeping
For my beautiful and Brave.
When the battle songs were chanted,
And wars stirrip tocsin peaiedi
By whose songs thy eoul WAS haunted,
Clamored wildly-wildly painted
Mother, let my wish be granted!
will ne'er be rocked and taunted
That feared to meet our vaunted
Foemen on the bloody field.
They thronginG, mother. thronGipg
To thousaI tields of fame!
Let me go-'tis wrorg-'tis wronging
God and thee to CT ush this longing;
On the musterroll of glory,
In my country's future story,
On the field of battle CORY,
must consecrate my name.
" Mother, grid my sword around me;
Kiss thy colder boy good.by.'"
In her arms she wildly wound thee
To thy birthlanis cause she bound thee.
With fond prayers and blessings crowned thee,
And she &C bbed, When foes surround thee,
If you fall. I'll know they found thee
Where the bravest love to die
At the altar of their nation
Stood that mother and her son;
BE tie victim OF oblation,
Painting for his immolation-
She in pIiestess holy station,
Weeping words Of conservation,
While G, smiled HIS APPRECIATION,
Blessed the boys self abneRstion,
Cheered the mothers desolation,
When the sacrifice was done.
Form like many a noble other.
Went lie whis ring soft and low:
" Good. ty-pIay for me, my mother;
Sister, kiss me--farewell brother"
And he stIove his grief to smother.
Forth, with Split proud and peerless
Forth. with footsteps firm and fearless
and his parting gaze was fearless,
TkoHeA-E heart was lone and CheeTleSs,
Thus from ali he loved to 60.
Lo! yon flag of freedom flashing
In the sunny Som hem sky
Onto death and glory dashinE-
On-w here swords are clanRinG-slashing-
Cn-wnere balls are crushing, crashing!
On-'mid rers dread appAllingl
On-they're falling, falling, fallingI
On-they re growing fewer, fewerl
Cn-their hearts beat all the truerl
On-on-on-no fear-no falter!
On-thouKh 'round the battle altar
There were wounded victims groaning-
There are dying victims moaning
Outright on-death-dAnger Drawing
wa1riDg here their dag was waving,
And baptismal blood was lAving
With tide of crimson water
All that ield of death and slaughter!
On-still on-that bloody laver
Made them brave and made them brAvSr;
On-with never a fault or w&ver-
On-they re battling ng-bleediDg-b ding
W lille the glorious shout iS sounding
I'VE will win the day or die"
And they won it! Routed-riven-
Reeled the focmen' 3 proud array
They had struggled long and striven,
Blood in torrents1hey had given,
But their ranks dispersed and driven,
Fled disgrscefuny away.
Many heart was lonely lying
There that would not tbrob again:
Some were dead and somewhere dying
Some were silent, some we're s'ghinEi
Thus to die-lone-unattendea-
Unbewept and nbefriended-
On the bloody bat lie plain.
When the twilight, sadly, slowly
Wrapped its mantle DER them all
Der those thousands lying lOwly,
flushed in Silence deep and holy
There was one-his blood wAs flowing,
And hiS last Of life was going
And kia PulSs fa5nt--fAinter beating,
rls,vFN a., A rn,ffo-