Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-06-03

With sablc-draped banners and slow measured
tread,
The fower-ladcn ranks pass the gates of the
dead;
And seeking each mound where comrades
form rests,
Leave .bedewed garlands to bloom on his
breast.
Ended at last is the labor of love;
Once more through the gateway tho saddened
lines move
A waiing OF anguish, sobbing OF grief
Falls low on the ear of the battle e.scarred chief;
Close crouched by the portals, a sunny haired
child
Besonght him in accents which grief rendered
wild:
OH sir, he was good, and they say he died
whyl why. did you pass by my dear papa's
grave?
l know he was poor, but as kind and as true
As ever marched into the battle with you
His grave 10 so humble, no stone marks the spot,
You may not have seen 1t. oh, say you did not!
For my poor heart would break If you knew he
And thought him too .owly your offerings to
share.
He didn't die lowly- -hc poured his carts blood,
In rich crimson streams, from the top-crowning
or the brcastworks which stood in front of the
fight
And died shouting, Onward! for God and the
rghtl
Der oil his dead comrades your bright garlands
But you haven't put ONE on MY papa's grave.
II mamma were here-but she lies by his side,
Her wsaried heart broke when our dear papa
died"
"Battalionl file leftl countermarch! " cried the
Chief,
This young orphaned maid hath full cause for
her grief"
Then up in his arms from the hot dusty street,
He liflei the maiden, while IN through the gate
The long line repasses, and many an eye
Pays fresh tribute Of tears to the lone orphans
sigh.
"This way,it Is-here, sir right under this tree;
They lie close together, with just room for me-"
"Halt! Cover with roses each lowly green mound
A love pure as this makes these graves hallowed
ground"
"Oh! thank you, kind sir. meier can repay
The kindness you've shown little Daisy to-day;
But III pray for you here, each day while live,
VI lie all that poor soldiers orphan can give.
shall see papa soon, and dear mamma loo
dreamed so last night, and know will come
And they viii both bless you, know, when
say
How You folded your arms round their dear one
How you cheered her sad heart, and soothed 1t
to rest,
And hgshed its wild throbs on your strong, no.
BILE breast;
And when the kind angels shall call You to come,
Well welcome you there to our beautiful home,
Where death never comes, his black banners to
wave,
And the beautiful flowers n 'er we ep DER grave.
Owing to rigid adherance TO the pro-
gram, Gen. j. e. Lee, of Toledo, who was
compelled to return home on the p. NJ.
train, was cut short in his address, having
only Is minutes left to him. But lie can
probably say rs much and say it as well in
10 minutes as any man in The State, and
the same may be SAID when a longer space
OF time is granted. He referred in feeling
terms to the boy soldier, John Wolford, who
was member of his Reg't and killed near
him at the second battle of Bull Run, and
alter whom this Post is named. He hoped
Memorial Day would continue TO be oh
served and placed it above all Of our legal
holidays, the 4th of July not excepted, and
ii his lie was spared for twenty years
he would lend his voice or his presence for
the proper observance of the day.
Col. j. A. Shannon was next introduced.
but owing TO the lateness OF the hour and
a threatening storm did not detain the au-
dience but few moments, but hoped on
some future occasion he might have the
opportunity TO resurrect the memory OF
many in this vicinity with his recollec-
tions OF the early stages OF the war, when
Co. A. of the Tooth o. V. l. was raised
here.
The exercises were here brought to a
close by Rev. DIR. Yingling pronouncing
the benedIclion.
The procession was then reformed and
marched back to Post headquarters where
it was dismissed, except the officers oil
Post and mound singers who proceeded in
carriages TO the Catholic Cemetery and
proceeded to decorate with appropriate
ceremonies the two graves OF soldiers bur
led there.
The thanks OF The Post are due and we
know in advance Of official expression
that we win be endorsed in hereby tender
ing the same to the several committees
and all who contributed so literally o.
their time and means to make II success
the objects Of memorial day.
uRET