The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-12

Our boy said, 's1f had lived would have
fought the struggle to the eid. Ia the batsic'ss
front would have borne my part and whenli
IL was over, Mt home with mother and wifcs
would have played with my boy In the sum n
shine. 1t Is night on thi. battlefield stained
with blood. IL is night In my sightless eyess
closing forever. hut the morning dawns on q
nightless shore, where pain and death never
come, where peace and Joy arc endless, where
friends will never sever" They carried the
coffin out ON the sward, and all the town came
TO look at the first frcits brought home from
the war. The Sunday-scheol gathered rounG
the grave of the brilliant young officer who
had been their superintendent. The weeping
children brought wreaths as we do TO day.
and covered the grave with laurels bcdewet
by tears.
Down where the cyclone of battle bore on
ward friend and foe in its awful confusion.
where bugles gave blast and swift squadrons
wheeled with flashing sabres and canister
moved whole ranks of brave young ridersy
where deploying lines met rnking hrc ana ram
with wells that shook all the air to the herce.
bay onct charge. where the wounded and tho \
dying fought each other in the dust like-
demons, till night dropped its curtain over ALL,
there came the commission sanitssy Christian.
like angels OF mercy and bore away the
wounded, and prayed with the dying. and.
sent messages from lips that were growing
cold in death. and buried the dead. Into tho &
hospital came women unused to the sight OF
blood or of wounds, aud took the dear head I'M
her lap and kissed the wan face, and bathe6
the forehead Of her dying soldier, and close6
his eyes and folded the brave hands over his
breast, and took him back
s.To rest In quiet native place,
Rest with the ashes OF his race,
TO sleep beneath his native sod,
WhereOn his kinsmeD worship God"
Here and there bereaved one, when she.
first saw on the clothing Of wounded boy the
color of the enemy, wonld turn away with
horror and look back toward her own dead
hut RS she heard his moan Of agony and saw
his struggle to breathe, she raised the cooling
water to his lips. and he, dreaming as his eyes
glazed In death that II was his mother wh0s
watched beside him, that II was mothers hands
that casped his own that IL was mothers kiss
he felt upon his forehead. said GOOD night"
and died. Our world Is not wholly hopeless.
From the smoking hell OF battle l0vc and
pity send their prayer. and the dying enemy
finds ministration Of mercifal afFection.''
But what of the thousands who had no ono
to bring them home to rest, who were bur!cdS
or lay unburjed, where they fell? At tho best
they were thrust into namclcSs graves by
strangers hands with no love or pity ON theis~
clay. and sleep where the only sympathy.
seems to be the sigh OF the wind through
Southern pines or the sob OF waves on tho. Y
Atlantic shores.
What OF the missing for whom hearts l0ngcd
for years. till hope died In despair. Did they
starve In Libby prison? Were they shot OH
the dead line mt Belle Isle? Did thcv die OF
disease in hospital? Were they crushed To
shapeless flesh in battle2 We meet, but vet
we miss them. There is still the vacant chnir.
God keep the memory Of those who ncYSn-
returned from the rage Of battle to beaufysss
smile and life's honors.
Tho graves of our dead heroes are mostly
far away under a southern sun. A few OF our
patriot dead are here. Bring flowers, Howeras
as the sweetest and most beautiful Of our.
Fathers handiwork we will use TO show how
sweet and beautiful was their sacrifice forth0s
republic; bring flowers, such as are won't to.
weave with the hair OF the maiden on her
marriage morn, that we may tell how we love
these who are married through death to-.
liberty. Bring flowers, such as are used to-
deck the coffin Of the Christian In token or
beautiful immortality. and by them show that.
the memory Of libcrty's martyrs shallnsxa1-
die.
Thank God that the tears OF hOaycn have
washed the gore from our battlefields ands
that the passions of the war are ccoleA Let Il
the blue and the rest sae BY sde
be no more. Let MS not forget that q generOu0&
though conquered foe lays. flowers on thfE
graves OF our dead.
mo more shall the war cry sever,
Nor tho river between US be red:
They Danish our anger forever
When they laurel tho graves of our dead.
Under the sod and the dew
Waiting the judgment day,
Love and tears for the blue,
Tears and love for the gray"
At last the war was done. They brought thes
banner that looked so new when IL shook out
starry brightness over the heads Of our boys
as they marched away, now rent and torn,
The white OF lberty's robe striped with tina
rosy dawn Of Columbia's thousand years OF
glory was crimsoned in the blood OF liberty's
defenders. but the heavens own blue in which.
she set the State-stars OF our glory was all:
there. Not star gone, not q State missing.
No territory lost. Old flag that makes men
free, emblem OF all that earths toiling millions
prize, guaranty that every man under it,
bright folds shall have chance to do his very
best, flag OF victory! How often we had
thought Of jubilee Of cheers when tho war
should close; but the Joy was too deep. withs
emblem of triumphant republic and took in,s
our arms the boys with worn uniforms. and
missing limbs, and empty sleeves. and ugly
scars, and shattered bones. and broken health. 4.
God bless you, veterans. II you are alive to-
day you nevertheless laid our lives ae mar
tyrs do on the altar OF your country. We
reverence you. II we can get you an easier
place, better seat. an ONCE Of profit, q posi-.
tion or honor. we feel that you have earned
and deserve 1t. You are the men to whom.
under God. we owe our political privileges.
You saved the government which enables
poor men like me to say, my son, there ts =
grand chance for You. You may be rail-
splitter like Lincoln. or ve & 10 og s csnin IKE
but II diligcnt and sensible, you car rise. x01t
veterans have helped Ireland more than any
and home rule seem practicable. You have
set the smartest boys IN despot-rtddeu coun-s
tries to saying, Mother. when am older wC*
will go the Great Republic and DO free from
senseIess aristocracies and useless thrones.
See the immigration. On they come FROM
that Ireland where liberty Is throttled by An
tons have combined TO hoid In chains: FROM
( he burning climes OF Africa and Of As1as
from lands where SuEEs,nsnsts 1 ns q wrSng sg nsvc
on our shore, the moment they touch tbot
sacred soil of the great republic, by the geniuek
they are all free The Utopian dream OF
equal freedom, with no nobility but Of tho
soul, and no master but God, IL realized. The
glad song from the hearts Of free people. 9
song Of free speech, free labor, tree SOIL freos
press, free culture, free worship offered to-
our Heavenly Father. song OF mAfice toward
none and OF charity t0all. song nCcOmpanto(1l
by the sound of myriad industries, the ham Or
the factory, the noise OF the reaper. the muotos'
Of Inventions miracles, IL song and aCcoIu.
pariment that is heard all around the world, ]
and falls upon the car Of the dispilttcd and I
oppressed Ike music of Paradisc.
lift up, lift up, thv voice with singing.
q land with strength lift up thy voice. ~
| The kingdoms of the earth are bringing
Their Treasures to thy gates, rciOicu-
Arise, arise, In youth immortal.
Thy might IL past. thy, d&y> appears,