The Republican journal., 1888-08-16
The Guard Of Ronor.
II MRS. HELEN \. PACKARD.

Read at the Reunion of the Fifth Maine Associ,
ton at Portland, Aug. l, 1SSs.
Across dark and widening sea,
Which reaches far beyond Times shore,
There sails ship with banners free.
Whose sails CLEAN white forevermore.
With steady head she holds her course,
No wind, no wave, no heavy sea:
No hidden rock, with sulen force,
Can stay or change her destiny.
With fearless purpose. bearing straight,
She rides each foaming, white-capped wave,
She brings to us her loving freight
Sweet memories of the true and brave.
Though adverse winds and tossing spray
Have sometimes swept her from our view,
Yet, still she keeps her onward way,
With courage bold and purpose true.
How well she knows the faithful minds.
That set her course by compass gauge
Will lead to no tempestuous winds,
Til safe within her anchorage.
With anxious hearts we watch her beat
Against the waves that hide our view
With lips that CULVER: now we greet
18th silent grasp her phantom crew
o noble ship, which sailed away
And spread thy white wings long ago,
Drop anchor now in this fair bay
" hose waters sweetly cbb and flow.
In sight and sound of ocean blue.
We meet to-day like pilgrims true.
band of comrades old and tried.
The unseen crew the good ship brought,
And nj our feet with blessing laid
just now we crown in solemn thought
With laurel Wreaths that never fade.
Beneath Our OWL, our native sky,
We take thy freight, Loves golden fleece,
\ dearer boon than wealth can buy,
The precious argosy of peace.
Within these walls that outlined stand
Against back of glowing green,
Mid sound of waves that kiss the strand,
In ripples soft OF sparkling sheen,
We gather here. with hearts that beat
In unison and rhythm true,
With ciasping hands we once more greet
Each comrrie Old that wore the blue.
We cannot see the shadowy guard,
Who trod the deck of that old ship,
We cannot hear the greeting word
Which trembcs on each unseen up.
Bat still they keep their watch and ward
DER living friend and grass grown grave.
And over hills and valleys broad,
Free floats the flag they died to save.
Irvine ivy for each unseen guest,
90 crown with palm the idle sword.
our honored guard, they have the best,
That earth could give, or Heaven afford.
Could greater glory e'er be theirs
To lie in blossom covered bed,
While other eyes shed dewy tears.
And other footsteps softly tread:
Though time, with sure relentless hands.
Shall dim the eye and chill the blood,
Yet still the guard Of honor stands
Round every spot where heroes stood.
They keep in fearless, watchfu care
With vigilance their solemn trust,
To watch and guard in salient air,
The honor of the silent host.
And still around these heroes left
To guard with care the hcnors won,
They throw Il halioWed influence soft
The consciousness of deeds well done.
Tie summer winds their low beds seek,
Their graves are sweet with songs OF birds,
And yet. ten thousand voices speak
In mystic tones these solemn words,
Comrades. We fall on calmer times
The pcrls of the sloth,-the sleep
IneidiouS foes that undermine
Foundations vast, and high, and deep.
The tree we planted in those days
OF carnage fierce. and battle dim,
Now grown in symmetry of grace,
Trcmbes and SWAPS in every limb.
"Comradcs,-our solemn having down
of life and love seemed Their no myth,
No dream the parting kiss,-th he groan,
The deep despair of wounds and death.
"No myth the severed bonds Of love-
No dream the broken earthly ties,
But Justice. pointing far above,
Demanded, then, the sacrifice.
"Comra'ies,-be yours the waking thought
To guard with ccaSele-s watchful care,
The blood stained heritage we bought
Aud sealed with gift Of value rare.
yours to uphold the Ship of state,
That rides the wave in doubtful calm,
L" analyze and separate
The good from carciessneSe of harm.
'in dying we beguca;hed to You
The germ of what might have been,
Oh, make the harvest rich aud true,
For other hands to gather in.
ave stretch to y0u the clasping hand,
From the bright hills of Paradise,
Comrades guard well your native lam!
ON which Gods peace and glory lies.