The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-09-12
Onr guet's Gpr1len -Seleetetl
ON TIE BANKS OF THE SHENANDOAH.

ON THE BANKS OF THE SHENANDOAH
BY W. WINSTON FoNTAINE, OF VIRGINIA
In early youth, q truant boy, 81 Git
| wandered over hill and vale
And in Froissart, with ardent Joy,
/ read the kuightly tale. au
| read Sir Walters glowing page
Of war against the 'Paynin foe
OF Occur de Icons martial rage l..
OF courtly lvanhoe, s .,,.,
With flushing face and beating heart
With kindling spirit rising light:G
A fervent wish my lips would part,
oh, if l were a knight ~
l wished to he feudal lord "a ri
With FURNISHED armOr on my breast
To charge upon the MOslem horde,
With pointed lance in rest. -. r
With favor of my lady-love
Entwined amid my floating plume,
Upon barbed steed to rove, sfa5
And sings fair cheeks bloom.
l little deemed tho time would como,
When, with ancestral sword in hand
Amid the bullets deathly hum,
I'd strike for mother land
Tonight the radiant moonbeams fall
And dappling light the forest dim;
I hear the night-hawk's piercing call, il"
2 The katy-dids weird hymn. 'fa raE
ri ~ a ~ ss5igEa 5aa9 3a SIS
/ hear some chargers FESTIVE snort t.
hear the sentry's lonely step ~
Where many Southern soldier haught
Lies near me locked in sleep. -.
And sweetly rolls the Shenandoah 'F'
In lucid waters from the west, E
As when the Indian maiden's oar
Once touched its silver breast.
My sabre leans against an oak, .s,a
My holsters are beneath my head;
And, folded in my martial cloak, @'' rs
/ mnse on comrades dead. p Eaa5 ,ass
Now, from the rivers dewy haze III
A band of warriors seems to rise;
And, lighted by the moons pure rays,
They pass before my eyes. ,..st.......
Three noble youthst ride in the van
Young Fontaine and the Conra.ls brave;
Their ebon plumes the breezes fan,
Their crimson pennops wave.
Now squadrons come in grand array,
With neigh of steed with. sabre clauk-
Oh, splendid is that line of gray
That skirts the river bank. ass 49,
There Ashly rides, with knightly grace,
His proudly prancing, milk white steed;
The soldiers JOY upon his face, si's} s'i.
Ear daring some bold decd. e rl-s-
His features glow as once they glowed /;
q His. dark brown eyes are fierce aud
ne sly large ln,l 5ass.fsl.5d ~.
40 iCl iiC li'iiiNOu W iUii NO SWoit,
And cried, "Virginians, charged
And there, a form unknown to fame
A soldier form of tender years
Ny lips can never breathe his name 70
l Without fast falling tears. .py...
There Pelham in the flush Of youth,
The light of victory in his eye.
And Farley, with his smile oftruth,
Go dashing gaily by.
There Jackson, glorious battle-k king,
Rides in his grim, gray uniform,
AS when bis troops made welkin ring,
Amidst the bullet storm. g 10 ~
,gEl aF $50
There Stuart, princely cavalier, -
With some gay love song on his lips,
Who lead the way with gleeful cheer,
Upon the bayonet tips. 700. s. II :
But, bark! but, bark! the bugle sounds /!
Away the phantom horsemen speed;
And from the ground each trooper bounds,
And mounts his battle steed. az t.,s,
The couriers come! and bark the cry!
THE foe, the foe is near at hand"
The squadrons form, with flashing eye
In martial silence stand. 5a53
. u.ag : j #1 hgoy d9g
flag in breeze above! a
Yirginia's soil my feet beneath psai
l. draw my sword, for her love, ,.aga
And State which gave me breath.
tThree college mates of the author.
They fell at first Manassas. -, ,.-.....