National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-22
tOT The NcaoRGl Republican.
OLD LETTERS.
BY JOHN s. SLATER.


And girlish forms whose budding maiden g.aces
Inspired my soul with loves sweet witchery.
They group around me; and the starlight gleam-
ing
Upon the earth, where twiiights mantle fell,
Leads me along the path where, Idly dreaming,
Iwalked the golden sands youth knows so we'll
II.
Hay them tenderly away, their pages half unread,
While memory casts her golden ray upon an aged
head
That often bowed above them in the days so long
since past,
And conned them DER and Ger again, while teac-
drops trickled fast,
And MY heart grows weak and softens, as looking
through my tears
Iwateh loves tender vision till it fades and disap
pears
Itake another bundle, tied with ribbon broad and
black,
And memory leads me tenderly along loves beaten
track,
Til c-;tch the cleaning sunlight that shimmered
thro' the leaves
To kiss me from my slumbeGs as from underneath
the caves,
The swallows twittring meTrily, few out from
clayey nest
To chase the moments gaily till the Day-God sank
10 resi-.
Again see the attic where my boyisA dreams be
And feel aaew the longings then fcl, TO be a
man.
Once more beneath the NOISY roof listen 10 tho
rain
lit patters on the shingles with many glad re
frain-
Again see myself boy. justas used TO be-
ba, baa rim
swee; melody.
Then rises M vision OF that sad, momen;ous day
When we listened to our countrys call and
marrhed. marched away
Ny brother Tom, and VIII. and but fist we
babe goodbye
To our chamber in the attic. looking back with
fearful eye
On wealth Of boyish treasure we reluctant cas-;
aside
the battles tide.
The air WAS iull of perfume then from arpe-yrecs
in bloom,
But whose fragrant. snowy blossoms failed TO dis
sipate the gloom
EEreloping our youth ful hearts that almost ceased
10 beat.
As We foDGly kissed or mother and went march
ing down the street
day
Was hid in mercy from her sight as then We
marched away.
We scnt these letters home to her, with messages
Of love.
To cheer her in her Loneliness. and prayed to Him
above
To strengthen her in sorrow and TO send her heart
relief
From anxious Gears that burdened it with agony
of grief;
And hoped, when war was over, tina, We might re-
turn once more
To sit beneath her kindly smile and talk our bat
lies DER.
But. alas! there came a sad day-the day when
brother VIII
Went dawn beneath wars cruel blast. soldier
grave 10 fiji.
l stood beside him as ne fell and saw the lCok Of
pain
That grew upon his features as he Sg-ove, but al
in vain.
To whisper me his dying words as On the ground
he lay:
While l. his brother leaving him. was marched.
marched away.
The combat soon was over. and sought him on
the field
Midst the nangied forms Of heroes wars havoc
had revealed.
found him resting peacefully. one hand upon hi>
breast
The lock Of pain had given place 10 one Of perfect
rest:
bore him gently 70 a spot beneath 6 spreading
And then buried him, 10 sleep, from ev'ry sor-
Tow free.
But ifs took lcck Of ha;- from OF his forehead
Ghe very lock tha, lies within this letter IN
fold.
To send;o her whose motheT-heaEt must gather
strength from God
To help !; bear I'D bEa~ely beneath lis chas ming
took this las Henen.o, as closed his dark blze
Which never un5iirhen had failed 70 make loves
sweet reQIicS-
Ions. wesTy days then followed: yet ny heart
though sore beEett.
Saw oHe golden ny Of comfort. to- brother ToI1
was,eft.
We drew clcssr 10 each other: and by letters
sought 70 cheer
The widowed one. who so a. home CENTRALIZED
;wiIt gTief and fea-.
And Oh how ear1eStly We prayed that carnage
might CEASE
Thai speedily the notes Of way might change 70
SyDEs q peace
The years moved On. and Gettysburg stretched o1,
bloody hand
to closo he eyes OF thousands: and amid the Val
isn't hand
Whose eye,idS there were cIosed IN death ny
brother Ton Eas one
But yet he t-ve-y c,ung 10 lie until the fight was
done.
And then saw him TO. depsrr, and felt his low
ing ks
As his sOui marched On 70 vtc;o-E and RAINS Of
IeEEe1 bliss
Al, Tom. dear Ton, ny Split yearnz cen nov foE
thy sweet smile
That never failed IL eli thy life NJ so-7cws 70 te
guile
Hong cen now 70 clasp Thy hand - loving. VAIN
and tue
Inst never did ~ro3g thing, DIT kept the right
IN view:
And long 70 lcok into thine eyes. and read tf1v
kindly heSr,
AsI used u Il II cd tinsS ere 14se de,,eed =
p2I-
AT length the vhite-ro5ed angel, Peace. sp,ecd
owe, - he land
Her d0EEny wings: while s7Tee,sSE Hope loves
e-te- gently famed:
Then while strains q Joyous muse soa-ei -:
upon the AZ
And SE:irs-;i--e. with rs Eovezz. made he ea--a
lUJS Uo-lirC-as Ea5-
We turned or taces hczae=s-d and. f.-gc;ful I:
III 1sy.
FoIlcwe5 afts- ou- YER tart,e-sagz sid marched
Married sz-<y.
We rezsbe1 our starting pace - Isl s15 Ezx
srd banners waved
While dear oaeS eius.e-ed round u vho lzte
LeGta's night had b-sEeE-
But oGr htaE1S ve1e touched with sadness. and
eye --eE din and EeJ
As he E.s.,ss: . a, o.E cl-zzsEikS ulosc Ene