The National tribune., 1884-09-18
TRIBUNE WASHINGTON THURSDAY

GERS thus far appointed on her staff-Mrs
Emma Free, Secretary, and Mrs. Mary Brown
Treasurer. And here the first General Order
of Mrs. President Emily V. I4ittlefield, Depart
ment of Maine, containing clear directions fol
the Relief Corps of her Department. with tho
hope that every Corps or Aid Society connected
with Posts in the State will fall into line and
become part of the Department of Maine" adj
ding that there is a welcome for all.
SOLID FOR woMAN's WORK
From Col. Henry A. Morrow. Department
Commander of Washington Territory, come:
the promise: Without information as to ths
details of your work, can say in advance thai
| am in sympathy with, and will be glad to co.
operate, so far as | can. in advancing the pros
perity OF any organization or society under the
control and direction of your SEX"
Last, pretty sen SHE'LL gathered not far
from the coast of Maine, bearing its message OF
confidence and esteem for our leader, comes il
the form of letter from Custer Corps at Lew
iston. In it the President says: Though
strangers, yet we claim an acquaintance dating
back to your first good words in THE TRIBUNE
and thereby feel assured that the year upor
which we now enter can but be as fruitful il
good works as has been the year just closed"
And, now that the bundle is exhausted,
take hasty survey of newspaper poesy, an(
clip this beautiful story, sweetly told:
THE GUARDS STORY.
We were picket, sir, he and T.
Under the blue of midnight sky,
In the wilderness, where the night birds song
Gives back an echo all night long;
Where the silver stars they come and pass,
Leave stars of dew ON the tangled grass,
And the rivers sing in the silent hours
Their sweetest songs to the list ming flowers.
He'd a slender form and girlish face
That seemed in the army out of place.
Though he smiled as told him SO that day
Aye, smiled and flushed in girlsh way
That minded me of face knew
In a distant village; meath the blue,
When our armies marched. at the meadow bars
She met and kissed me meath the stars.
Before us the river silent ran
And we'd been placed to guard the ford,
A dangerous place and we'd jump and start
Whenever a leaf by the wind was stirred.
Behind us the army lay encamped,
Their camp-fires burned into the night
Like bonfires built upon the hills
And set by demon hands alight
Somehow, whenever looked that way,
seemed to see her face again,
Kind o hazy like, you've seen a star
A peepin' out through misty rain;
And once believe as thought of her,
l thought aloud, and called him Bess
When he started quick, and smiling said,
" You dream of some one at home, guess"
Twas just in the flush of morning light
We stopped for chat at the end of our beat,
When rifle flashed at the rivers bank,
And bathed in blood he sank at my feet;
All of a sudden knew her then,
And, kneeIing, kissed the girlish face,
And raised her head from the tangled grass,
To find on my breast its resting place.
When the Corporal came to change the guard,
At six in the morning, he found me there
With Besse's dead form clasped in my arms,
And hid in my heart her dying prayer
They buried her under the moaning pines,
And never man III the army knew
That Willie Searles and my girl were one.
Your the first I've told-the story g new.
Always in F., G. and L.-MAUMEE.