The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-07-30
POETIC PROSE.

Il " ANo4b ABO su6fO lfVcu
a simple farmer boy, who rose in the
morning as the dawn opened, and who
toiled while the sunshine lasted. He
trod In the furrow throughout the long
summer day, and as he walked, bright
visions passed before him. In the hazy
Vapors of the future he seemed to see
himself the leader OF men, the stay of
the nation, the savior of his countrymen.
Inc years passed on, and the boy grew
into manhood. Then the dark shadow
Oh war tell upon the country, and men
rose and grasped their armor wherever
the tidings fed. The farmer boy went
into the combat, and so long as the fray
lasted, 30 long as the strength remained
in him, he was there TO cheer his droop-
Ing comrades. TO ride forward where
death awaited, TO lead the waving and
glorious banner OF free people on to
victory. There were times when all the
people OF this great country waited
breathlessly; when the shadow of sus
pense drove out the sunshine of hope
when Stiffness and quiet
hung over this great nation and
when this great nation turned the eve
OF faith upon One Man, as the ship
wrecked and tempest.tossed waif turns
bis failing eye upon the far of but en-
couragiDg beacon. And that one man
rose like Hermirius of old, and where
ever his voice sounded, and where
ever his watch word ruug, and where
ever bis form was in the lead, victory fol
lowed, and nation was saved. There
wac a time when heroes, brave but con-
quered. bent before him, and cast their
iaurels at his feet; when multitudes
gathered about him and looked upon
him az the pillar of their salvation;
when worlds turned to breathe his plaud-
its,and when hIstOryrung with the deeds
OF this IllustrIous commander, whose
home had been in the meadow, in the
quiet country home. Aud this simple
country boy rose until he presided over
the country he had saved. And when
be stood at the head OF great and pow
eriuI nation, his simplicity, his courage
and bis moral grandeur were with him
still. He was a hero in the robes of a
chieitain, as he was in the garb of q
farmer boy. Yesterday morning, as the
dark and weary night passed away; as
the bright morning sun silver
cd the dewdrops, and the
southern wind waved the flowers, the
farmer boy. the warrior, the president,
passed away. Through cherries and
drearY months of sickness, pain and
agony he had passed, and all that suffer
ing never drew from his lips a sigh, a
plant or a moan. When the cold, dark
shadow OF death hung over him; when
his beloved ones knelt around him, and
sobbed for him; when he seemed 10 hear
the murmur OF the waters of Jordan, he
turned his fearless and hopeful eyes up
ward, and smiled. When ambition wills
pered To him; when he longed To finish
the history he loved SO well; when the
whole world was bright and beautiful
about him; when a hundred million
people prayed for him, he turned his
falling eyes To Him he had always trust
ed, and the tongue that had once led
hosts to victory, family murmured:
"Thy will be done" The sun shines
ON as brightly as ever; the plight comes,
the stars glisteD, and the din and hurry
OF the world ceases for a time; but
through the sunshine and the shadow,
through the starlight and the gloom, our
hero is sleeping. When the SHOWS of q
century have fallen upon his tomb when
the storms and sunshine of all the CON-
ing cycles OF years shall have beaten
upon his resting place, his memory will
remain rs bright and uniading in the
hearts of ell his people, as the lustrous
glory of the morning star lllumes the
drearY world that rests below.