The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-05-23
DECORATION DAY, 1879.
BY THOMAS s. COLLIER.

The golden sunlight falls across the far of south.
ern plains
Rich with the tender verdure born from heavens
bOunteous rains
And violets and daisies boom above each silent
grave,
Where, free from battles fierce alarms, sumber our
comrades brave
The swift years circle on their course 1t seems but
yesterday
Since Charlestons frowning cannon sang their chal
lenge to the fray;
And sweeping north and east and west the drefu
tidings flew,
And the stern answer OF the lard to louder echoe.
greN.
The freemen OF New England rose and seized thel,
waiting arms;
The western farmer turned away and left the prair
les charms;
From Maine to California awoke the people,
might,
To fight and die II 1t must be, for country and 70
right
Through quiet valleys sounded clear the war-drum'
rolling beat,
And soon was heard, In prompt reply, the tramp o.
many feet
And breaking rudey from the clasp Of peace and low
anu uOue
Brave souls rushed on where battles surge wa
crowned with crimson foam.
Along the rivers run ming deep amid the southern
pines,
The rifles crash, the bugles call the bayonet grim
shines;
Contendlng armies melt away by James sunli
stream
Death rules where bearded grain fields beside Antie
tam CLEAN.
Where the Atlantic rollers sweep Carolinas sandy
shore,
From many frsate's oaKen sides the great gun
fercely roar;
And down the hollows OF the deep to dim-t cora
caves,
Deaths endless slumber on their eyes, sink ocean
fallen braves.
We know that sorrow grew apace through all tn
heightened days.
And desolate for clnging heaIts were the familiar
ways:
The cheers that made the welkin ring DER fields witt
carnage red
Had for refrain loves heart-broke moan above tn
sleeping dead.
All, proudly beat the pulse when came the news O
victories won:
How swelled each soul in sympathy for brave deed
nobly done
And even when defeat would come, ana foemen vii
the day,
We knew our boys had fought their best to conque
in the fray.
Now silent are the forests old amid whose cool re
treats
Great armies met, and from the shore have passct
the hostile fleets.
We hear no more the trumpcts bray or buge's stll
ring call,
And full OF dents, in quiet sheaUhedthe swords han
on the wall.
We keep the names that fame has crowned tn
heroes slumbering lie
In green clad mounds all grandly arched by purpl
depths OF sky;
No matter where their graves may be, unmarked Q
graced with stone,
The liberty for which they did the whole wide Ian
doth own.
strew flowers on their graves to-day when come
the winter snow
The sweet remembrance OF the deed within eac
heart will glow,
And when We too are laid at rest beneath the bent
ing grass
Some other hands Will leave their gifts as by ou
homes they pass.
strew flowers upon their graves. and stlll remem
Der grasses grow
Alike upon the resting place OF fallen friend an
foe.
Why should We keep the bitterness OF years 50 fu
OF pain.
When Gods fair blooms have hid from sight the re
blood OF the slain?
Ger frownng Tamparts where once shone the sci
trys cleaning steel,
| In swift and widely crcng flight the purple swa
lows wheel
| Beside the Rappahsnnocks tide the robins wal
their song
| And where the flashing sabres clashed brown-coa
ed sparrows throng.
The wealth OF beauty that falls out from Gods oe
flowing hand
Clothes with a fragrant garment the fields by deal
made grand.
In the deep silence OF the earth wars relics slow
| rust
And tattered iags hang motlonless, and dim wi
| peaceful dust.
| charging squadrons met
And though we keep wars memories green, why n
the cause forget?
And have, while bsttle-stalns fade out meath hea
ems plying tears,
one land, one nag, one brotherhood through all /
coming year2
Standby Afternoon.