Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-06-07
In Memoriam.
AN INSPIRING ANTHEM TO THE MEMO
EY OF FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

AN INSPIRING ANTHEM TO THE MEMO
RY OF FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.
Xessrs. Editors of The American !:
I enclose herewith for publication in
your columns q most touching and ex-
presaive mortuary tribute to the
memory Of him whose name will ever
be associated with that inspiring an
them to which the American heart
will cease to respond in deeds of va
lor upon the slippery deck and the
furrowsd field, only when time shall
cease to move or our country shall for
get its high and holy mission. It
was exhumed from an old scrap-book
of other days, and is now furnished
anew to the press Of the present day
through your columns as all eloquent
tribute to the memory of the deceas-
ed poet, whose death not only filed
the hearts of our citizens, but of his
countrymen throughout the land with
national sorrow. Francis s. Key
was young man, only thirty-four
years Of age, when he wrote his great
national anthem, and he died in this
city January llth, l843, in the esd
year of his age, at the residence Of his
son-in-law. Charles Howard, Esq, on
the corner of Charles and Monument
streets, where the Mount Vernon M.
E. Church now stands.
1t will be readily perceived that the
gifted authoress, whose real name, it
is to be regretted, is lost to that i'm
mortality to which her touching trib-
ute fully entitled her, adapted it to
the measure and air of the deceased
poets deathlees song, in which his
exulting soul rnburthened itself in
those inspiring lines 80 familiar to
every American heart the wide-wo
over, upon the successful defence Of
Fo,t McHenry in September, 1914,
by the gallant Armiatead, when tho
poet saw. On the following morning
Through the mists of the deep"
"That our flag was still there"
w. w. G.
To tho memory Of FRANCIS s. KEY, author
Of "7he Star-Spangled Banner" uho died
in tie city Of baltimore, January 11M,
1s43,
o say, has it come with "thc dawn's early
light"
What no omen fo.ctold "at the twilight's
last glcam:ng?"
figh,
And we hallow his name whilst our tear
drops are streaming,
For the desolate heart and the wall lor the
Too painfully tell us the poet has fled,
And the Star -Spanglcd Banner halfmastcd
doth wave,
For the heart that once loved it lies cold
in tho grave.
On some lonely bark in the midst "of the
deep"
While the dcck-watch is kept for the
chief who Proposes"
Are heard strains of soft music that mingle
with sleep,
AS natures rcstorer drcam-lands Wis
ions "dlscloses"
Now they mellowly float on the breath of
the gale;
Now they swell like the tempest ihG' shn'-
tcrs the sail;
'Tis the Star-Spangled Banner that's sung
on the v ave,
Whilst the minstrel lies low in the sleep
Of the grave
And the soldier, whose home is the tent
covered field,
Who glories in war and the patriots
prOmOuOn,
Will ever look proudly on CoLuMBlAs
bright shield
At the name that each freeman must hear
with emotion;
For the song that is dear to the heart of
the Nation,
Mid "the havoc OF war and the battles
confusion,'
Is the Star-Spangled Banner, that proudly
is sung,
Whilst the harp Of the poet with cypress
is hung.
But o may he find on the Heavenly shore,
Where the pure see their God and feel
no condemnation,
That sorrow and sickness and signing are
DER,
And that angels shall lead to blest nab
itation
For triumph he must, as in life he was
just,
And all through his Journey In God wdS