Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-03-21
a LAMENT.

The following touching verses were written after
The battle of Second Manassas by an Augusta lady,
on hearing tie lament of friend whose husband
was killed on that holly contested field. The lines
peihg suggested by the words of the bereaved one,
When she received the sad Intelligence, were -dedi
ot'esu by Tie writer, who died bride shortly AFTER
~ tle widow of the dead soldier; and have lately
peen 1ound among some Old papers:
oasce more" oh! Heavenly Father. yet 'once more
SlsS behold his face-may hear him speak
Inc words OF tenderness, for which my heart
Is painting, like weary famshed bird.
= am so weak vessel, and have chung, ts.8 Il
WIN such tenacious fondness. to the guide
lhy lender mercy lends my erring steps,
Aiidt must faint, must perish if Withdrawn.
once more! Oh! jus once nore'' to hear his step
hast ming to greet me, with such kindly joy!
o''ce more" to gaze into the eyes that beam,
Ever with teEderest sympathy on mes
10 leel that gentle hand S dear, fond caress;
10 near the words of cheer know hed speak!
IVY hearts 50 sore and faint with anxious fears!
once more" to quaff one sweet, delicious draught
vi happiness, its thirst might satisfy;
Might almost heal. would surely strengthen it.
1hcn, could say, Oh! God. "Thy will be DONE"
Harh! that's q step! Cease, Cease! thy throbbjng
will,
foor tortured hearth Leave me little strength
To greet its coming Nay, it is not his.
1t lags as though the tidings that 1t brought
We're most unwelcome-were from fields of blood
Alas! my fancy wild has traced his steps
To scenes OF carnage, till it has morbid grown;
And every voice seems rife with tales of woe,
Sad newsl Oh! friend, unsay those cruel wolds!
know the bitter meaning they import.
Oh! t IL mel tell me not! faint! I die.
(N<,6 H. 4
Surely the sun is dal kened, for the earth
Seems wrapt in darkness like funeral pail:
And must grope my weary way, alone.
Oh! that the End were nigh; yet gracious Lord,
fain would suffer all THY holy will"
List heard We not voice so small and STILL,
That, when the car is dulled with earthly sounds,
And earthly pleasures satisfy the heart, 4
Its music is unheard, it passeth by ~
AS but an idle wind: but when the storm
Ofsorrow bars the heart strings to its touch;
1t wakens an Eolian strain more sweet
Than ever greeted it from halls of mirth.
1t is the 'Comforters!'' LET not your heart
Be troubled, neither let it be afraid
A mansion is prepared in heaven for thee,
Poor stricken one! and he, who made thy home
On earth SO bright, is there to welcome thee.
What matters it that, yet a little While AZ |
We shall not see him!' he is Witt thee STILL
Are not Gods ministering angels sent
To comfort those who mourn? and who can tell
But that has spirit bears that precious charge, |
And hovers near thee--far more safely guides
Thy falteiing steps, than when an 'earthly house"
Confined its vision to the the things of sense?
He guides the sill his memory like a STAR,
Points, ever with mild and steady light.
To that straight way that leads to endless life.
SCI g...s..4s4 w.. .sste .,..4
''Once more!', Oh! not In anger, not in hate II
Was thy fond prayer, for one more precious hour
OF earthly converse ans" cred not. Oh no!
Thy Father knoweth best: and in His love
And pity chose the yery time most fit
To gather home His jewel. Itwas meet;
gem was needed for the Savior's crown
Of rare and brilliant lustre; and the world
Contained not one SO fitting the bright place,
And that twas gathered from the CORY field
Where duty led thy brave and thy devoted one
To battle for his country S dearest rights,
But rendered it more perfect in its light,
Granting thy prayer, oh! poor, deluded child!
Thy heart would still have cried, "Once more!"
'Once mOre!'
And bed more freely for the tie that binds
The heart more strongly with the strength of years.
Ne know not how, nor when, nor by what means,
We best can yield our treasures. Hence It's well,
tbs merciul that a kind Father, who
'Does never willingly aff1ict," should choose
Our sad and needful changes .-Shelter then,
More closely meath the arm that dealt the stroke
Thatlaid thy cherished idol in the dust,
Perhaps twas done to bring thee nearer Him,
Who will husband and Father be be.
Look up; poor stricken one; and there will dawn,
Fen ON the verge of this dark, gloomy night,
A light from Heaven, 'that brghtens more and
more, E...4.... 5.-t
Until the Perfect Day. shall make all plain.
mar2I*