Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-26
THE GRAVE or NV PLOW.SHOEs
AND HAT.

The author Of the following beautiful produc-
ton formerly lived near Aberdeen, Miss, on
farm but he went 20 Europe in 1873, when only
nineteen years of age, where he wrote this poem
This is It's first appearance IN America His name
is known in many households in Mississippi as e
Wild sweet Poet-AdHtr~r-
am marshaled tonight on the broad field Of
Far fa- from rae hearts which think OF me most;
hear the shrl. tie and the kettle-drum's ratt {,
A. they zeal the loud war notes TO the gathering
Once my fancy found fame in the musket and
But ii looks on them with painful regret,
For my yalor in mourning now sits in the shade
BY the grave where buried my plow-shoes and
hat
When TILED the fair fields f5r pleasure and pas
Now vs.luly wish f.rthose days to return.
Then I heard the loud heTalds Of evening and
While my mothers sweet lips were pressed to
a light heart now throbbing no longer feel,
Though its early emotions III never forget;
Now sleeps in the grave with my plow and
III
When 7 made that quiet grave my Young heart
Like wandering. clear water from its sacred re
And my sisters sweet songs in pure notes were
As She lined her soft numbers with her hazel
The hearts which then loved me are withered and
The ofbs OF my hope in gloom clouds have set;
And the spirit Of Peace grew weary and fed.
And tests by the grave OF my plOw-shoes and hat.
".
In my visions OF sorrow see my dear father
As he stands DER the tomb, enshrouded with
The rough gales OF age, who'll help him to
When the landmarks Of time are laid in his
a he wept At our parting tonight doeth he weep
With tesIs l should dry his cheeks are now wet,
lp 81 u IlDrus
Which spring from the grave of my plow-shoes
and hat.
1 remember the songs OF the mock-bird and
This pensiveIy sad, that cheeriuIy gay
Where ! sat in the shade OF the lilac and myrtle
And whis percd Of love in the ears OF the free
OF the Past and It's phautoms deem them part,
Their spirits long ago in shadow-land met
For their cchoing songs now thrill my sad heart
Ana sink by the grave OF my plow-shoes and hat.
VI
o mother, sweet mother, weep not at my staying
III came back ere long TO aszuagc your wild
FROM The red ranks Of war my spirit is straying
Back, back, to YOUR bosom for shelter again
Go lead your sweet children and point cut the
Ny fair strapger-brother, place where once
And tel them my peace there made her last trace
When filed up the grave of my plowshoes and
| Fair spirit from whom ain parted forever,
! Who forged the strong chains OF affection IL
youth,
! Had an angel e'cr told me those links you would
sever.
! I had branded his words with the seal of I'M
truth.
! To the day-Sta~ OF glory struggled TO move;
The seal OF disgrace on my forehead set.
You praised my ambition, you pledged me you
love.
| To betray where buried my Plow-Shoes and hat
Ere the stars can have flushed in the light OF to
| Imay siumber unknown, unwept on the heath
| Or drabbled in blood, may laDguish in sorrow
! Till Mercy comes clad III the costumes OF deaf h
! At his grim featured yiSage calmly would smile
| For my friends o er my ashes no marble tan set
| If they'll plant some sweet flowers loved when
! child,
To bloom DER the grave of my plow-shoes an'
hat.
|