The National tribune., 1884-07-10
Gar Yoapg Recruits.

Gar YoaRg Recruits.
SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF VETERANS THE
LITTLE PEOPLE CONVERSATION CLUB
YoUNG PEOPLES TELEPHONE.
Before the young people begin their pleasant
chat the editor wants TO introduce to them one
of our honored and patriotic American poets,
John James Piatt, now United States Consul
at Cork, Ireland. You all know that the bat
ties of the Union were not all fought with
bullets and lead. Our soldiers defended our
homes and fresides, fighting on the front line
aud at the cannon's mouth. Our loyal women
stayed their hearts and strengthened their
arms by letters of good cheer, while they bore
heavy burdens AT home; and often when their
hearts were breaking with anxiety and hard
ships they cared for the wounded and dying,
sent from their often scanty stores OF deiicacles
and cordials, and in a hundred ways contrib
uted to the success of the Union arms. Then
there were those who fought our battles with
speech and pen in the halls of Congress; in
our State Legislatures; in our printing Offices,
and through newspapers, books and the cur
rent periodicals OF the day. There were art
lists, like Thomas Mast, who helped fight our
battles with the clever caricatures of his noble
art and there were the poets who stirred the
tagging courage of our people at home with
their brave patriotic and impassioned words
Such a poet was John James Piatt and such
helped to hold the Union heart firm and true
while Grant was pushing his way to Richmond
and Sherman was laundering at Atlanta, with
half the country In mourning over the armies
of the slain, and the faint hearted and false
hearted were predicting the failure of the
Union arms. Riding to Vote " was another
poem of great power and influence in carrying
the elections for the Union which our boys
and girls shall have another time.
THE MOWER IL oHIo-JUEE, 1854
The bees in the clover are making honey, and am
The air is fresh. seem to draw young mans
breath to-day.
The bees and are alone in the grass the air is so
very still
hear the dam. so loud that shines beyond the
sullen mill.
Yes the air is still that hear almost the sounds
1 cannot hear
That when no other sound is plain, ring in my
empty ear:
swathes that sweep
They ring about me- resting when 1 waver half
asleep
So STILL not sure if a cloud, low down or
unseen there be,
Or if something brings rumor home of the can
non so lar from me:
Far away in Virginia. where Joseph and Grant,
| VIII tell them what / meant when first had my
mowers go.
Joseph, he is my eldest one the only boy of my
three
| Whose shadow can darken my door again and
tighten my heart for me.
Joseph, he is my eldest-how his scythe was striIs-
ing ahead!
William better at shorter heats, bat 10 in the
long-run led.
William, he was my youngest; John. between
When my eyes are shut, with little board at his
head IN Tennessee.
| But William came home one morning early from
Gettysburg last july,
| fTiie moving already. although the only
mower was ID
William, nay captain, came home for good to his
| mother; and I'll be bound
We were proud and cried to see the flag that wrapt
his coffin around.
For company from the town came up ten miles
| with music and gun;
It seem'd his country claimd him then-as well
as his mother-her son.
But Joseplfi Is yonder with Grant to-day, thou
| sand miles near,
| And only the bees are abroad at work with me in
| the clover here.
Was IT murmur of thunder heard that humm'd
again in the air?
Yet, may be. the cannon are sounding now their
| Onward TO Richmond therei
But under the beech by the orchard at noon sal
hour it would seem
1t may be slept minute, too. or waver'd into 9
dreami
For saw my boys, across the field by the flashes
they went,
Tramping steady tramp as of old, with the
strength IN their arms unspent;
Tramping steady tramp, they moved like soldiers
that march TO the beat
OF music that seems, part of themselves to rise
and fail with their feet;
Tranaping steady tramp, they came with fiashe.
of silver that shone,
Every STEP from their scythes that rang as If they
needed the stone
(The field Is wide and heavy with grassland
coming toward me, they beain'd
| With shine of light in their faces at once and
surely must have drc2m'di
For sat alone in the clover-f field, the bees wer,
working ahead.
There were three in the vision, remember, ole
man; and what if Joseph were deadI
But hope that he and Grant (the flag above then
both, To boot
T VIII go into Richmond together, no matter which
is ahead or afooti
Meantime alone at the moving here-an old MAI
somewhat gray
must stay at home as long as 1 can, making, my
SELF the hay,
| Ane so another round-the quail in the orchays
! whistles bithe;