Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-24
AN INCIDENT OF ,64.

1met my brother at the train
And kissed eun man h We feoa home again.
, Home from the dreadful Rapidani
! Two years had passed-two Years that a.v-
since he had led his men awaay:: 'na' Jay
Brigh. Ger his head the banner streamed.
Rd saw Oh the ans i faintl9 th tb sunlight n! cleaned;
We heard them send back answering eheera
once more had him at my sideI
And all the air seemed full of son9'
Eejoicing in the muster out.
Inst tlena wall fell on the ear
Avail it thrilled the soul to hear
Charley! Charley!
Come home to me! Come home to mel"
swhat's that2" cried Tom, and clutched nv
ASH to hold me back from harm
swhat is that dreadful wailing, Katel
GIn,a y, ear rtoken.desolate!
' onF people a@1lt Know know her rn hope Mlssg caiY. Hall;
She married Charley just theday
Before his regiment marched aWay:
AT Christmas he would come again.
He said, as fled the flying train.
She waited trembling for the hour
And prayed that God would give her power
TO bear the burden Of her ioy WV
When she should greet her gallant bow.
How sluggishly the dull months passed!
But al the days crept by at last
And GhrlsLLiaS morning came; she drest
In all her brightest things and best
And ran to see the train come in.
On! Here upon this bulletin
"'KILLED BY A RIFLE BALL
IN CHARGE ON WAGNER-SERGEANTH HALL,
aShe fell and lay as she were dead.
And then it was her reason feds:
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! Charley!
Come home to me! Come home to meIs
sshc never smiles, she never weeps,
But still her teaAess vigil keeps.
and and htS IS due sa It ho ass se aes FTay'
And gaZes at the morning sun
Counting her fingers, II by one.
0, 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 rs you hear her now:
Charley! Charley!
Poor Poor g eir1"t aid Tom, and shook his head;
4saw MIN 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 c~olors-Sergeant Hall.
AS he was waiting there, he set
Above the flag a silk roset,
And then he smiled and said to me.
They faced the storm Of shot and shell
And sprang into that blazing hell:
The flag is on the parapet,
1t waves eXultant on the crest,
Falls inward and-God knows the rest!
Poor fellow!-,where the squadron wheeled
I saw him hurried IN tho fold to
AS brother Tom rehearsed the tale
l marked beyond him, wan and pale,
Poor Margery bending close to hear.
And then she chanted loud and clear:
"Charley! Charley!
Come home to mel Come home to mol"
> Isaw a similar name to-day"
Whose name is Hall, and went from here
Has been in Andersonville a year;
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:
> Stand back! l hear her sweet voice CALI
Where's Margery? / am Sergeant HallI"
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.
To rest?
To rest!
Her eycIids close;
Her weary soul has found repose.
How calm her face, How eaceful there
The roses sleep within her hair!
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. Cro6ut. in N. Y. Graphic.
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