The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-16
AN INCIDENT OF '64.

I met my brother at the train
And kissed him welcome home again,
o, was proud his face to SCAN
Home from the dreadful Rapidani
Two years had passed-two years that day
Since he had led his men away;
Bright Ger his head the banner streamed,
Bright on his sword the sunlight cleaned;
We saw them, family, through our tears,
We heard them send back answering cheers
And, now. In fush Of Joy and pride,
Once more had him at my sidel
Across the green we strolled along,
And all the air seemed full Of song,
As happy hundreds focked about
Rejoicing i'm the muster out.
Just then wall fell on the ear
A wall it thrilled the soul to hear
Charley! Charley
Come home TO mel Come home to mer
- What's thety" cried Tom, and clutched m,
As If to hold me back from harm
:" What fs that dreadful wailing, Kate2
wretched--heart,broken-desolateT
Our people know her hopeless cali.
She married Charley just the day
Before his regiment marched away;
At Christmas he would come again,
He said as fed the flying train.
She waited trembling for the hour
And prayed that God would give her powe
To bear the burden of her Joy
When she should greet her gallant boy.
How sluggishly the dull months passed.
But all the Gays crept Dy at last
And Christmas morning came: she dreSt
In all her brightest things and best
And ran to see the train come in.
Obi Here upon this bulletin
"'KILIED By RIFLE BALL
In CHARGE On wAGSER-SERGEANT HALL.
% She fell and lay as she were dead,
And then IL was her reason fed:
On this one point-on others sane
She looks for Charley home again.
She watches near this bulletin
And chants when all the trains come In:
Charley! Chsrleyi
Come home to me! Come home to mel
- She never smiles, she never weeps,
But still her fearless vigil keeps,
And always says: He's on the way,
And he is due at home-to-day!
And gazes At the morning sun
Counting her fingers, one by one.
o, it is pitiful to see
How grandly patient she can be;
She preens herself with ribbons rare
And braids fresh roses in her hair,
Then with serene and tranquil brow
Sings, Tom, just as you hear her now:
Charley! Charley!
Come home to me! Come home to met"
:" Poor girl" said Tom, and shook his head;
- Poor girl-for Sergeant Hall Is dead.
saw him on that fearful night:
He was the foremost in the fight.
The Colonel called for men to leap
And storm Fort Wagner up the steep;
One stepped out first, alert and tall,
And grasped the colors-Sergeant Hall.
As he was waiting there, he set
Above the flag a silk rOset,
And then he smiled and said to me,
For love home and Margery!
They faced the storm of shot and shell
And sprsng into that blazing hell.
Forward" / seem to see them yet;
The flag is on the parapet,
1t waves eIultant on the crest,
Falls inward and-God knows the rest!
Poor fellow!-where the squadron wheeled
saw him buried on the field.'
As brother Tom rehearsed the tale
/ marked beyond him. wan and pale,
Poor Margery bending close to hear.
And then she chanted. loud and clear:
Charley! Charleyl
Come home to me! Come home to met!
- saw a similar name to-day
Said Tom There Is a man, they say,
Whose name is Hall. and went from here
Has been in Andersonville year;
Escaped"
A shout A stalwart man,
Haggard and grim and brown with tan,
Came bursting through the startled crowd
And swung his arms and cried aloud:
's Stand back L hear her sweet voice call!
Where's Margery? am Sergeant Hall!
o, Joy too great for life! One cry
She uttered, piercing, wild and high,
Then, all unconscious, dropped to rest,
Pallid and pulseless on his breast.
10 rest?
To resti
Her eyelids close;
Her weary soul has found repose.
How calm her facet How peaceful there
The roses sleep within her hairl
Now. from the parapet of Heaven,
She calls unto him, morn and even:
Charley! Charley!
Come home to me! Come home to mel"
W. a. Crofh. in n. Y. Gruphic.