Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-12-25
SHEPHERDSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, SATU
THE SOLDIER OF THE RHINE.


giers,
There was lack of woman's nursing, there
was dearth of wOman's tears;
But comrade stood beside him while the
life blood ebbed away,
And bent with plying glances to hear
what he might say.
The dying soldier faltered as he took that
comrades hand,
And he said ~ never more shall see my
own, my native land!"
Take a message and token to some dis
tant friends Of mine,
For | was born at Bingen, at Bingen on
the Rhinel
'Tell my brothers and companions, when
they meet and crowd around,
To hear my mournful story in the pleas
ant vineyard ground,
That we fought the battle bravely, and
when the day was done,
Full many corpse lay CHASTITY pale, be-
meath the setting sun,
And mid the dead and dying was some
grown old in wars,
The death ound OH their gallant breasts,
the last of many scars.
But some were young, and suddenly be-
held life's morn decline,
And one had come from Bingen, fair Bing-
Ell on the Rhine!
''Tell my mother that her other sons shall
comfort her old age,
For ] was aye a truant bird that thought
his home a cage;
For my father was soldier, and even
when child,
My heart leaped forth to hear him tell Of
struggles fierce and wild;
And when he died and left us TO divide
the scanty hoard,
let them take what e'er they would. but
kept my fathers sword
And with boyish love hung it where the
bright light used to shine,
On the cottage wall at Bingen, calm Bing-
ell on The Rhine!
''Tcll my sister not to weep for ME, and
sob with dropping head,
When the troops come marching home
again, with glad snd gallant tread;
But to look upon them proudly, with
calm and steadfast eye,
For her brother was 4 soldier too, and not
afraid to die.
And ifa comrade seek her love, ask her
in my name
To listen to him kindly, without regret
or shame;
And to hang the old sword in its place
my fathers sword and mine,}
For the honor of old Bingen, dear Bingen
on the Rhine!
"There's another, not sister, in happy
days gone by,
You'd have known her by the mcrriment
that sparkled In her eye;
Too innocent for coquetry, too fond for
idle scorning,
o! friend fear the lightest heart makes
sometimes heavies5 mourning!
Tell her the last night Of my life, (for ere
the moon be risen,
My body will be out Of pain, my soul be
out of PRISON. .... .
I dreamed | stood with her and saw the
yellow sunlight shine,
On the vine clad hills of Bingen, fair Bing-
en- on the Rhine! ..'
II saw the blue Rhine sweep along,
heard or seemed to hear
The German songs we used to sing In
chorus sweet and clear;
And down the pleasant river and up the
slanting hill,
The echoing chorus sounded through the
evening calm and still;
And her glad blue eyes were on me, as
we passed with friendly talk,
Down many path beloved of yore, and
well remembered walk;
And her little hand lay lightly, confiding-
ly in mine,
'But we'n meet no more at Bingen, loved
Bingen on the Rhine."
"His voice grew faint and hoarser, his
grasp was childish weak.
His eyes put on q dying look, he sighed
and ceased to speak;
His comrade bent to lift him, but the
spark of life had tled
The soldier of the Legion in foreign land
was dead!
And the soft moon rose up slowly, and
calmly she looked down,
On the red sand Of the battlefield, with
bloody corpses strewn!
Yes calmly on that dreadful scene, her
pale light seemed to shine,
As it shone OH distant Bingen, fair Bing-
ell on the Rhine"