Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-23
A volame Of Poems by Hon. H. L. Gordon
Of Minnesota.

DOuS, 10 no. Il
This beautiful volume, just from the press,
cannot fail to attract admiring attention. Not
the highest production. perhaps, of poetic
genius, yet the author has dallied to good pur-
pose with the poetic muse, and the pages of
his book are gemmed with many passage Of
rapt-poetic beautys. We have read the book,
every word of it. We could scarcely
do less. having commenced it, 80 fascinating,
SO touching, so pathetic is ''The Captain 8
story" In the chief poem, Pauline" the
character of PAUL the real hero of the tale,
is admirably sustained, and is graphic depic-
ture of self-sustained, self-sacrifcing manhood,
with all human hope dashed and blasted by
treachery and fraud. Robbed thus of his
hearts idolatry, Paul joins the Union army,
and, with q self-forgetful, not to say reckless
bravery, tempts the fate of battle with un-
blenched heroism. The author depicts many .
terrific battle scene with vividness at once
thrilling and startling. Here follows a de-
scription of the bloody battle of Balls Bluff,
where the accomplished, heroic Baker gave his
life for his country:
'"Twas there brave and noble Baker fell,
sacri6ce-perhaps to treachery.
Quenched was the fame that fred thousand
hearts;
flushed was the voice that shook tho Senate walls,
And rang defiance to the traitors there
Brave Baker saw the peril, but not his
The soul to shrink or falter, though he saw
His death warrant in his orders. Forth he led
His proud brigade across the roaring chasm,
Firmly and bravely into the chasm of death
Baker had fallen in the battle front;
He fought like Spartan and Like Spartan fell.
Their leader lost, confusion followed fast;
.IopY vh{ v,ln1< nnfi al1
The author depicts with singular power of
description the battles of Fredericksburg and
Charlottesville, and finally portrays the terri
BILE fight at Gettysburg, where his hero, Paul lays
down his life for his country. The author de-
scribes the second days battle and the result,
thus
'sWe waited grim and silent till they crossed
The valley and began the dread ascent
Then braZen bugles rang the clarion call
Arose as one twice twenty thousand men,
And I'LL our hl-tops blazed with cracking fire.
zone wild yell sweled by ten thousand hideous
Along the slope like the fierce hungry howl
OF famished wolves upon the bisons track,
And through the battle cloud the bravest burst;
They plant their tattered banner our works;
Thnnders their shout OF victory! Appalled,,
Our serried ranks are broken,.bnt in vaini
On either hand our cannon enflade,
And pour their iron storms Of canister;
We press them headlong down the bloody hill;
They break in wild disorder, cast away
Their arms and fly in panic. AL the vale
Is spread with slaughter and wild fugitves.
Wide DER the field the scattered foemen fly;
Dread havoc and mad tenor swift pursue
Till battle is but slaughter. Thousands fell
Thousands surrender, and the Southern fag
Is trailed upon the field"
Paul receives his death wound in the
fierce bloody encounter. His captain seeks
him out upon the bloody, hard fought field,
and with his dying BREATH with melting pa
thos, gives the story never told BEFORE of his,
or Pauline's love, their cruel betrayal and her
tragic death. He thus describes the death
scene, as he stood beside cher silent couch:''
"And looked in upon my darling dead,
Mine, o mine in Heaven forevermore!
Gods angel sweetly smiling in her sleep;
How beaatifnl-how radiant of Heaven!
The ring gave begirt her finger still;
Her golden hair was wreathed with immerteles;
The lips half parted seemed to move in psalm.
Or Holy blessing. AS kissed her cheeks
It almost seemed that they would flush again,
AS in those happy days beneath the pines;
And as my warm tears fell upon her face,
Methought heard that dear familiar voice,
So full OF love and faith and calmest peace,
So near and yet SO far and far away,
So mortal yet spiritual.-ike air
OF softest music on the slumbering bay
Waited on midnight wings to silent shores,
When myriad stars are twnkling in the sea:
'sFaul, D Paul, fOryiUe and be .f0rgiven;
Earth is all trial; there is peace in heaven.''
The dying soldier had at length found repose
and rest. Ills earthly woes we're ended.
ellis eyes were closed-a placid smile Of peace
Sat on his lips. held his nerveless hand,
the ed H the a
heard-or thought heard-hs wondrous words,
sPauliae-hoW beauHfutn"
No one can arise from the perusal of this
creation Of the gifted poet, without feelings
subdued and tender, and without heart full
pleasing melancholy.
Five other shorter poemsI conclude the volume.
We believe it will be the popular verdict, that
the author has made valuable con tribution to
the literature of the day.
Il DANGEROUS COUNTEREEIT.